XJ.  S.  DEPARTMENT  OF  AGRICULTURE, 

BUREAU  OF  ENTOMOLOGY — BULLETIN  NO.  38,  NEW  SERIES. 

(Revised  Edition.) 
L,  O.  HOWARD,  Entomologist. 


SOME 


MISCELLANEOUS  RESULTS 

OF  THE 

WORK  OF  THE  DIVISION  OF  ENTOMOLOGY. 


■v  i. 


PREPARED  UNDER  THE  DIRECTION  OF  THE  ENTOMOLOGIST. 


WASHINGTON: 

GOVERNMENT   PRINTING  OFFICE. 
1904. 


BUREAU  OF  ENTOMOLOGY. 


L.  0.  Howard,  Entomologist  and  Chief  of  Bureau. 
C.  L.  Marlatt,  in  charge  of  experimental  field  work. 

F.  H.  Chittenden,  in  charge  of  breeding  experiments.  'L^M 
A.  D.  Hopkins,  in  charge  of  forest  insect  investigations. 
W.  D.'  Hunter,  in  charge  of  cotton  boll  weevil  investigations. 
Frank  Benton,  in  charge  of  apicultural  investigations. 

F.  M.  Webster,  in  charge  of  field  crop  insect  investigations. 
A.  L.  Quaintance,  in  charge  of  bollworm  investigations. 

E.  A.  Schwarz,  D.  W.  Coquillett,  Th.  Pergande,  Nathan  Banks,  Assistant  Ento- 
mologists. 

R.  S.  Clifton,  E.  S.  G.  Titus,  F.  C.  Pratt,  August  Busck,  Otto  Heidemaxn,  A.  X. 

Caudell,  J.  Kotinsky,  R.  P.  Currie,  F.  D.  Couden,  Assistants. 
R.  C.  Althouse,  W.  F.  Tastet,  Mary  G.  Champney,  A.  J.  Leister,  D.  J.  Partello, 

T.  A.  Keleher,  Stenographers  and  Clerks. 
Lillian  L.  Howexstein,  J.  F.  Strauss,  Draftsmen. 

G.  H.  Harris,  W.  E.  Hinds,  A.  W.  Morrill,  Springer  Goes,  C  M.  Walker,  J.  C. 
Crawford,  Jr.,  W.  A.  Hooker,  W.  W.  Yothers,  A.  C.  Morgan,  W.  D.  Pierce, 
E.  D.  Sanderson,  E.  C.  Sanborn,  A.  C.  Lewis,  A.  F.  Conradi,  H.  A.  Morgan, 
S.  E.  McClendon,  E.  S.  Hardy,  R.  C.  Howell,  A.  W.  Buckner,  J.  B.  Garrett, 

engaged  in  cotton  boll  weevil  investigations.  ~  ' :    ->  ^§9 

F.  C.  Bishopp,  C.  T.  Brues,  A.  A.  Girault,  C.  R.  Jones,  engaged  in  bollworm  inves- 
tigations. 

J.  L.  Webb,  H.  E.  Burke,  W.  F.  Fiske,  engaged  in  forest  insect  investigations. 

Leslie  Martin,  J.  M.  Rankin,  engaged  in  apicultural  investigations. 

Henrietta  A.  Kelly,  C.  J.  Gilliss,  W.  A.  Keleher,  Marie  Rey,  Mabel  F.  Clayton, 

engaged  in  silk  investigations. 

Herbert  Osborn,  J.  S.  Hine,  C.  E.  Chambliss,  Lawrence  Bruner,  Temporary  Field 

Agents.  v.  .^-g^M 


U.  S.  DEPARTMENT  OF  AGRICULTURE, 

BUREAU  OF  ENTOMOLOGY— BULLETIN  NO.  38,  NEW  SERIES. 

(Revised  Edition, 

L.  O.  HOWARD,  Entomologist. 


S  O  M  E 


MISCELLANEOUS  RESULTS 

OF  THE 

WORK  OF  THE  DIVISION  OF  ENTOMOLOGY. 


PREPARED  UNDER  THE  DIRECTION  OF  THE  ENTOMOLOGIST. 


WASHINGTON: 

GOVERNMENT  PRINTING 
19  04. 


OFFICE. 


LETTER  OF  TRANSMITTAL. 


U.  S.  Department  of  Agriculture, 

Bureau  of  Entomology, 
Washington,  July  22,  1904-. 
Sir:  I  have  the  honor  to  transmit  revised  copy  of  several  articles 
and  shorter  notes,  none  of  which  are  of  such  a  nature  as  to  justify 
their  publication  in  separate  form.    The  matter  presented  is  similar 
to  that  which  has  been  published  in  other  bulletins  of  this  series, 
namely,  in  Bulletins  7.  10,  18,  22,  and  30;  and  I  recommend  the  pub- 
lication of  the  present  material  under  the  title  "Miscellaneous  Results 
of  the  Division  of  Entomology,  VI,"  as  Bulletin  No.  38,  new  series, 
revised,  of  this  Bureau. 
Respectfully, 

L.  O.  Howard,  • 

Entomologist. 

Hon.  James  Wilson, 

Secreti try  of  Agric ulture. 

3 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 
in  2013 


http://archive.org/details/saneouOOunit 


CONTENTS. 


Page. 

The  Southern  Grain  Louse  (Toxoptera  graminum  Rond. )  (illustrated). 

Theo.  Pergande.  7 
Report  of   an  Investigation  of  Diseased  Cocoanut  Palms  in  Cuba. 

August  Busck.  20 

The  Palm  and  Palmetto  Weevils  (illustrated)  F.  H.  Chitttenden. .  23 

Notes  on  the  Rhinoceros  Beetle  (Dynastes  tityus  Linn.)  (illustrated). 

F.  H.  Chittenden.  28 
Notes  on  Enemies  of  Mushrooms  and  on  Experiments  with  Remedies. 

August  Busck.  32 

Notes  on  Colorado  Insects  A.  N.  Caudell. .  35 

Grasshopper  Notes  for  1901  Laurence  Bruner. .  39 

Killing  Destructive  Locusts  with  Fungous  Diseases  Lawrence  Bruner..  50 

The  Conflict  of  the  Russian  Zyemstvos  with  the  Enemies  of  Agriculture, 

(abstract)  V.  Morachevski 61 

The  Tobacco  Stalk  Weevil  (Trichobaris  mucorea  Lec.)-...F.  H.  Chittenden..  66 
The  Leaf-Mining  Locust  Beetle  (Odontota  dorsalis  Thunb. ),  with  Notes  on 

Related  Species  (illustrated)  F.  H.  Chittenden..  70 

General  Notes   90 

On  the  Erroneous  Belief  that  Common  Native  Insects  are  Introduced  from 
Abroad  in  Seed  (p.  90) ;  Capture  and  Possible  Introduction  of  the  Nun 
Moth  in  America  (p.  90);  Estimated  Loss  Occasioned  by  the  Varie- 
gated Cutworm  in  1900  (p.  91);  Occurrence  of  the  Mediterranean  Flour 
Moth  in  Minnesota,  Wisconsin,  and  Michigan  (p.  92);  The  Angoumois 
Grain  Moth  in  1901  (p.  93);  Recent  Injury  by  the  Cigarette  Beetle  (p. 
94);  Injurious  Occurrence  of  an  Exotic  Dermestid  in  the  United  States 
(p.  96);  Some  Blister  Beetles  Injurious  to  Fruit  Trees  (p.  97);  Notes  on 
Vine-chafers  (p.  99);  The  Colorado  Potato  Beetle  in  the  South  (p.  100) ; 
The  Rice  Weevil  an  Important  Factor  in  the  Failure  of  Germination  of 
Corn  in  the  South  (p.  101);  The  Sandwich  Islands  Sugar-cane  Borer 
Again  (p.  102) ;  Umbrella  Ants  in  Cuba  (p.  104) ;  The  Gage  Bug  (p.  104) ; 
The  Probability  of  the  Occurrence  of  the  Mexican  Cotton-boll  Weevil 
in  Brazil  (p.  105);  The  St.  Andrew's  Cotton  Stainer  (p.  106);  Stoppage 
of  Electric  Lights  by  Insects  (p.  107) ;  A  Variety  of  Wheat  Said  to  be 
Immune  from  Hessian  Flv  (p.  107);  A  Western  Cricket  in  Oregon 
(p.  107).  ' 

Notes  from  Correspondence   108 

Tobacco  for  Mushroom  Fumigation  (p.  108);  Insect  Injury  in  Texas  (p. 
108) ;  The  Apple  Twig-borer  {Amphicerus  bicaudaius  Say )  Injuring  Honey 
Locust  (p.  108);  The  Pear-blight  Beetle  in  the  Pacific  Region  (p.  108); 
Peculiar  Larval  Habits  of  a  Leaf-beetle  Affecting  Prickly  Ash  (p.  108); 
Blister  Beetles  Attracted  to  Lights  (p.  109);  Parasites  of  the  Tent  Cater- 
pillar (Clisiocampa  americana  Harr. )  (p.  109);  Parasites  of  the  Plum 
Curculio  (p.  109);  Note  on  Pogonomyrmex  barbatus,  one  of  the  Agricul- 
tural Ants  of  Texas  (p.  109);  A  Cimbex  in  British  Burma  (p.  109);  the 
Ox  Warble  in  Mississippi  (p.  109);  Christian  Science  for  Cattle  (p.  109); 
Scavenger  Flies  as  a  Creamery  Pest  (p.  109);  Notes  on  Kissing  Bugs 
(p.  109);  Tobacco  as  a  Remedy  for  Grape  Leaf-hoppers  (p.  110);  The 
Use  of  Harvest  Spiders  in  Medicine  (p.  110);  Negro  Superstition  in 
Regard  to  Stinging  Ants  (p.  110);  Successful  Infection  of  a  Wireworm 
with  Cordyceps  Fungus  (p.  110);  Cutworm  Injury  to  Ginseng  (p.  110); 
The  Unicorn  Worm  in  a  New  Role  (p.  110). 

5 


ILLUSTRATIONS. 


PLATES. 

Page. 

Plate  I.  The  Southern  grain  louse  ( Toxoptera  gram inum  )   16 

II.  Rhinoceros  beetle  (Dynastes  tityus) :  Fig.  1 — Larva.    Fig.  2 — Pupa..  28 

TEXT  FIGURES. 

Fig.  1.  Palmetto  weevil  (Rhynchophorus  cruentatus)   26 

2.  Rhinoceros  beetle  (Dynastes  tityus) :  male   30 

3.  Leaf-mining  locust  beetle  ( Odontota  dorsalis) :  stages   72 

4.  Leaf-mining  linden  beetle  (Odontota  rubra)   84 

5.  Octotoma  plicatula:  beetle   89 

6.  Pomphopcea  sayi:  beetle *   98 

7.  Anomala  undulata:  beetle   99 

8.  Sphenophorus  obscurus:  stages   102 

9.  Sphenophorus  obscurus:  work  in  sugar  cane   103 

6 


SOME  MISCELLANEOUS  RESULTS  OF  THE  WORK  OF  THE 
DIVISION  OF  ENTOMOLOGY. 


VI. 

THE  SOUTHERN  GRAIN  LOUSE. 

(  Toxoptera  graminum  Rondani. ) 
By  Theo.  Pergaxde. 
INTRODUCTION. 

Aphis  graminum  Rond.,  Nuovi  Ann.  della  Science,  Series  III,  Vol.  VI,  p.  10, 
1852. 

Toxoptera  graminum  Passerini,  Aphididse  Italicee,  p.  28,  1863. 

This  destructive  little  Aphidid  was  first  observed  and  described  under 
the  name  of  Aphis  graminum,  by  Dr.  C.  Rondani,  who  stated  that  the 
winged  migrants  were  swarming  during  the  month  of  June  in  immense 
numbers  in  the  streets  of  Bologna  to  the  great  annoyance  of  the 
inhabitants.  In  connection  with  his  description  he  gives  a  list  of  the 
following  graminaceous  plants  on  which  this  plant-louse  had  been 
observed  to  feed:  Oats  (Avena  sativa  and  elatior);  wheat  (Triticum 
vulgar  e);  spelt  {Triticum  spella);  couch  grass  (Triticum  repms);  Hor- 
deum  marinum;  soft  chess  (B ramus  mollis),  and  corn  (Zea  metis). 

A  lengthy  article  on  the  grain  aphis  was  also  published  the  same 
year  by  Dr.  Dom.  Luigi  Mazzanti  (Nuov.  Ann.  Sc.  Nat.  Bologna,  Ser. 
Ill,  Vol.  6,  pp.  31:2-352),  which  I  have  been  unable  to  consult. 

Dr.  J.  Passerini  redescribed  this  species  in  1863  (Aphididae  Italicae, 
Genoa,  pp.  28,  29),  removing  it  to  Koch's  genus  Toxoptera.  He  men- 
tions as  its  food  plants  Triticum,  Hordeum,  Avena,  Zea,  and  Sorghum. 
The  same  food  plants  were  also  mentioned  by  Passerini  (Flora  degli 
Afidi  Italian!;  Bui.  Soc.  Ent.  Ital.,  Vol.  Ill,  pp.  151,  248,  310,  and  313). 

In  1881  Dr.  G.  Horvath,  of  Budapest,  Hungary,  published  some 
observations  on  this  species  ("Rovartoni  Lapok,"  vol.  1,  pp.  113-115 
and  XIX,  and  a  second  article  on  the  same  insect  in  "Fauna  Regni 
Hungarian,"  p.  60,  1897),  dividing  the  area  infested  by  it  into  regions, 
Regions  I-IV  comprising  the  central,  eastern,  and  northern  sections, 
and  VI  the  southernmost  central  area.  Neither  of  these  publications 
is  at  my  command. 

An  interesting  article  on  the  destructiveness  of  this  species  to  oats 
was  published  by  Dr.  Karl  Sajo,  Budapest,  Hungary  (Zeitschrift  fur 

7 


8 


Pflanzenkrankheiten,  Beitrage  zur  landwirthschaftlichen  Insekten- 
kunde,  Vol.  IV.  p.  1.  1894).    He  says: 

Fifteen  or  sixteen  years  ago  I  always  raised  excellent  oats  on  a  field  bordering  a 
meadow;  all  of  the  plants  were  of  a  strong  and  healthy  growth,  and  about  one  meter 
in  height.  Later,  however,  notwithstanding  heavy  manuring,  the  stalks  became 
gradually  more  slender  and  lower,  and  the  crop  of  the  grain  so  scant  as  not  to  pay 
for  cultivation.  Happening  once  to  inspect  the  grain  during  summer  at  the  proper 
time,  I  found  that  the  cause  of  the  decline  was  a  plant-louse,  which  Dr.  Geza  v.  Hor- 
vath,at  Kecskemet,  in  1884,  discovered  to  be  the  cause  of  "reddening"  of  the  leaves 
and  the  total  destruction  of  the  young  plants,  and  which  proved  to  be  the  grain  aphid, 
Toxoptera  graminis  JRond. 

It  occurred  to  me  that,  by  abandoning  the  common  or  Bauern  oats  and  replacing 
it  by  liner  and  stronger  varieties,  they  might  be  able  to  successfully  withstand  the 
attacks  of  the  Toxoptera.  I  was,  however,  much  mistaken.  I  planted  on  some  of 
my  best  fields  adjoining  the  meadow  a  row  of  triumph  oats,  Anderbeck  oats,  and  the 
common  Bauern  oats,  and  found  that  lice  showed  a  decided  preference  for  the  finer 
varieties  with  broad,  bandlike,  and  juicy  leaves,  particularly  the  triumph  oats.  Of 
this  variety  absolutely  nothing  was  left;  all  of  the  plants  were  destroyed  before  they 
reached  a  few  inches  in  height;  the  whole  field  was  completely  ruined  as  if  it  had 
been  swept  by  fire.  Anderbeck  oats  resisted  somewhat,  though  not  much  better, 
whereas  the  common  oats  showed  the  best  results,  of  which  at  least  half  a  crop  was 
obtained. 

I  am  of  the  opinion  that  this  invasion  of  the  aphides  had  its  origin  in  the  meadow, 
because  the  trouble  began  first  along  the  edge  of  the  meadow  and  spread  gradually 
to  the  middle  of  the  field.  Unfortunately  all  of  my  fields  suitable  for  the  cultivation 
of  oats  are  in  the  immediate  neighborhood  of  meadows  or  along  patches  of  grass, 
while  the  more  distant  fields  are  of  a  sand}'  nature  and  can  only  be  used  for  cultiva- 
tion of  rye,  corn,  etc.,  which  renders  a  comparison  impossible. 

The  consequences,  therefore,  were  that  I  had  to  reduce  the  cultivation  of  oats  to 
a  minimum  and  to  replace  it  with  fodder  corn,  turnips,  clover,  etc. 

Professor  Sajo  (p.  150,  loc.  cit.)  says  that  this  species  has  probably 
nowhere  else,  except  in  Hungary,  shown  itself  to  be  so  destructive, 
but  that  in  Hungary  it  is  one  of  the  most  destructive  enemies  of  barley 
and  oats.  He  states  that  its  destructive  habits  were  first  described  by 
Dr.  G.  v.  Horvath,  who  discovered  it  to  be  the  cause  of  the  reddening 
of  the  oats  at  Kecskemet,  and  that  during  the  following  years  similar 
complaints  were  reported  from  the  provinces  of  Bacs-Bodrog,  Borsod, 
and  Csanad. 

The  latest  contributions  regarding  the  food  plants  of  this  species 
were  published  hy  Dr.  Giac.  Del  Guercio  (Nuove  Relazioni  R.  Staz. 
di  Entom.  Agraria,  Firenze,  serie  prima,  No.  2;  Prospetto  Dell* 
Afidofauna  Italica,  p.  115,  1900)  with  the  statement  that  this  plant 
louse  is  found  in  considerable  numbers  on  Triticum  vulgare,  Hordewm 
vulgare,  Avena  satwa,  Zea  mats,  Dactylis  glomerata,  Brorrws  sp..  and 
Loll  um  perenna. 

HISTORY  OF  THE  SPECIES  IN  AMERICA. 

Xhe  earliest  record  in  the  possession  of  the  IT.  S.  Department  of 
Agriculture  of  the  presence  of  this  pest  in  the  United  States  dates 


9 


back  to  June,  1882.  Unfortunately,  however,  the  locality  from  which 
the  insects  were  received  was  not  obtained. 

In  June  of  1884  this  species  was  discovered  on  wheat  at  Cabin  John 
Bridge.  Md..  though  not  in  sufficient  numbers  to  cause  any  appreciable 
damage.  During  summer  and  fall  of  the  same  year,  and  January  of 
1  s^>.  specimens  were  observed  by  Prof.  F.  M.  Webster  at  Oxford,  Ind., 
on  wheat  transferred  from  the  field  to  breeding  cages,  in  which  they 
continued  to  breed  and  multiply,  enabling  him  to  make  some  interesting 
observations  on  the  rapidity  of  reproduction  of  the  species.  On  isolat- 
ing some  pupae,  which  soon  became  winged,  he  found  that  during  the 
following  twenty  days  they  produced  about  10  young,  or  at  a  rate  of 
1  to  1  a  day;  as  a  rule,  however,  the  apterous  or  wingless  females  are 
still  more  prolific. 

During  June  of  1890,  after  an  intermission  of  about  five  or  six 
years,  this  grain  louse  again  became  quite  abundant,  and  was  found  in 
Indiana  by  Professor  Webster  in  injurious  numbers  upon  wheat  at 
Lafayette  and  in  southern  portions  of  the  State,  while  in  Posey 
County,  in  the  extreme  southwestern  section,  they  were  so  numerous, 
both  on  the  fully  developed  and  on  the  tender  unfolding  leaves  of 
wheat,  as  to  cover  them  in  some  cases  completely.  The  oat  crop  was 
a  total  failure;  many  of  the  fields  were  as  brown  as  though  the  plants 
had  been  winter-killed.  Daring  the  same  year  they  spread  over  a 
large  area  of  some  of  the  grain-producing  States  of  the  South.  They 
were  first  reported  about  the  middle  of  January  by  Mr.  P.  C.  New- 
kirk,  Jalapa.  Monroe  County.  Tenn..  as  being  very  injurious,  killing 
all  the  wheat  in  his  section.  The  following  March  he  wrote  again 
that  the  insects  had  not  been  able  to  survive  the  heavy  rams  and  frost 
of  the  month,  as  far  as  he  could  see,  though  much  damage  had  been 
done  to  wheat,  patches  the  size  of  an  acre  or  more  being  apparently 
dead,  and  he  had  doubts  that  one  of  his  fields  would  recover  from  the 
damage  done. 

January  29,  1890,  it  was  reported  by  Mr.  B.  F.  White,  Mebane, 
Alamance  County.  X.  C,  as  ruining  all  the  wheat  and  oats  there. 
February  26  specimens  of  this  insect  were  sent  to  this  office  by  Mr. 
J.  L.  Fookes,  Era.  Cook  County,  Tex.,  with  the  statement  that  the 
species  had  played  sad  havoc  with  the  wheat  in  that  section.  In  a 
communication  of  the  31st  of  March  Mr.  Fookes  writes: 

You  ask  me  about  the  amount  of  damage  done  to  the  crop  and  how  long  they 
have  abounded  in  our  fields.  It  is  believed  now  that  they  have  been  in  the  fields 
since  early  fall;  they  still  remain  in  great  numbers  in  some  fields.  As  to  the 
amount  of  damage,  we  place  it,  after  a  careful  estimate,  at  75  per  cent  in  one-half  of 
this  county,  which  includes  the  Avheat  belt.  One-half  will  be  planted  in  other 
crops  and  the  remainder  will  be  about  one-half  stand.  There  are  some  small  crops 
of  Fultz  .vheat  which  are  not  hurt.    The  rest  of  the  crop  is  Mediterranean  wheat. 

Early  in  April  specimens  were  received  from  Mr.  D.  J.  Eddleman, 
Denton,  Denton  County.  Tex. ,  with  the  statement  that  the  species  was 


10 


destroying  the  wheat.  It  was  also  received  June  2  from  Mr.  J.  G. 
Barlow,  Cadet.  Mo.,  who  observed  it  to  be  very  injurious  to  oats. 

REPORTED  INJURY  DURING  L901. 

During  the  spring  of  L901  this  species  became  extremely  numerous 
in  the  grain  belt  of  Texas,  as  the  communications  received  during 
that  year  show. 

Mr.  W.  R.  Peters,  Caddo  Mills.  Tex.,  wrote  March  15:  "  I  inclose 
you  a  sample  of  red  winter  wheat  that  has  been  killed  by  a  small 
green  bug.  The  wheat  in  our  county  is  badly  damaged  by  the  insect. 
I  have  50  acres  destroyed  by  this  bug."  The  same  day  specimens 
were  also  received  from  Mr.  C.  A.  Kelsey,  Sherman.  Tex.,  who  said: 
'•These  little  flies  are  fast  destroying  the  young  wheat;  they  are 
beginning  to  sap  the  oats,  and  have  been  working  on  the  grain  since 
early  fall." 

Mr.  H.  K.  Jones.  Valley  View,  Tex.,  in  a  letter  dated  March  16, 
says : 

I  inclose  you  a  sample  of  insects  which  are  killing  the  young  wheat  in  this  sec- 
tion; they  are  on  the  wheat  by  the  million.  They  first  made  their  appearance 
about  ten  years  ago,  at  which  time  they  killed  all  the  wheat,  or  about  all,  in  this 
county,  and  what  was  left  made  only  1  to  3  bushels  per  acre.  The  next  time  we 
noticed  them  was  last  year,  when  they  made  their  appearance  early  in  spring.  After 
the  wheat  headed  they  went  to  the  heads,  and  we  thought  they  would  surely  ruin 
the  wheat,  but  we  had  a  good  yield;  after  the  wheat  headed  we  had  a  great  deal  of 
rain,  which  may  account  for  it.  We  first  noticed  them  this  season  in  December 
last;  they  were  not  numerous,  but  have  been  increasing  ever  since.  We  find  that 
cold  does  not  hurt  them;  they  have  gone  through  a  zero  spell  and  come  out  all 
right;  have  seen  the  wheat  covered  with  sleet  and  the  bugs  frozen  up,  but  on  thaw- 
ing they  seemed  to  be  as  hungry  as  ever.  Wet  weather  is  no  drawback  to  them ;  we 
have  just  had  a  good  rain  a  week  ago,  but  the  wheat  looks  worse  and  the  bugs  better. 

Mr.  J.  C.  Coit.  Denton.  Tex.,  wrote  March  18  that  wheat  in  his  sec- 
tion was  badly  injured  by  this  insect  and  that  a  few  days  previous  it 
was  noticed  that  the  wheat  did  not  have  so  deep  a  color  as  usual  at 
that  season.  Upon  an  investigation  it  was  found  that  the  outer  leaves 
of  the  wheat  were  dead.  The  aphides  were  found  on  the  ground 
under  the  protection  of  the  leaves,  in  some  spots  as  many  as  six  or 
eight  around  the  same  plan4:.  In  1890  the  wheat  was  destroyed  by  this 
or  some  similar  pest. 

In  a  communication  from  Mr.  B.  H.  Hamilton.  Weston.  Tex..  March 
18,  it  was  stated  that  this  insect  was  ruining  the  wheat  in  that  part  of 
Texas,  that  it  had  been  at  work  for  six  or  eight  days  prior  to  the  date 
of  writing,  and  it  was  noticed  that  on  striking  a  bunch  of  wheat  the 
ground  would  be  covered  with  numbers  of  the  insects.  It  was  in  that 
vicinity  this  year  (1902),  but  did  not  appear  until  the  last  of  April  or 
tirst  of  May.' 


11 


March  26  Mr.  F.  C.  Katcliff,  Vernon,  Wilbarger  County.  Tex., 
reported  that  this  louse  infested  the  wheat  fields,  and  that  the  crop  in 
some  parts  of  that  county  was  suffering  from  its  depredations. 

March  27  Mr.  Oswald  Wilson  observed  this  species  on  wheat  near 
Houston,  Tex.,  and  on  the  10th  of  April  near  McKinney,  Tex. 

March  29  Mr.  D.  M.  Hamilton,  Austin,  Tex.,  reported  that  these 
plant-lice  were  worse  on  stubble  land  of  wheat  than  on  corn  or  cotton 
land. 

On  the  1st  of  April  specimens  were  received  from  Mr.  J.  Booze, 
Sherman,  Tex.,  who  stated  that  " these  flies  or  gnats"  were  very 
numerous  in  low  places  and  that  they  had  entirely  destroyed  the  oats 
and  wheat. 

Under  date  of  April  22  Mr.  A.  E.  Jenks,  of  the  American  Thresh- 
erman.  Madison,  Wis.,  forwarded  to  this  office  specimens  of  this  insect 
received  from- Elmont,  Grayson  County,  Tex.,  with  the  report  that 
wheat,  oats,  and  corn  were  all  ruined  by  it,  and  that  during  the  year 
or  two  previous  it  had  done  great  injury  to  these  crops  in  Texas.  On 
the  same  date  the  following  note  was  received  from  Mr.  S.  E.  Rus- 
sell, Fate,  Tex.:  "I  send  you  herewith  a  few  of  the  little  green  bugs 
which  are  destroying  our  crops  in  toto.  Wheat  and  oats  are  gone; 
there  are  not  so  many  on  corn  to-day." 

Specimens  were  also  received  April  21  from  Ralli  Brothers.  New 
York  City,  which  they  had  obtained  from  their  Greenville,  north 
Texas,  cotton  agency,  with  the  accompanying  report: 

This  insect  has  seriously  injured  wheat  and  oats  and  is  now  attacking  young  corn. 
Wherever  they  have  attacked  wheat  or  oats  the  field  looks  as  though  it  had  been 
^wept  by  fire.  A  number  of  farmers  have  been  forced  to  plow  up  their  wheat  and 
plant  corn. 

A  letter  was  received  April  25  from  Mr.  J.  W.  Bussell  through  the 
American  Thresherman,  complaining  of  injuries  by  this  insect  at 
Mountain  Peak,  Tex.,  saying  that  it  was  pla}'ing  havoc  with  the  grain 
crop  there;  oats  were  entirely  ruined,  and  wheat  cut  50  per  cent. 

April  30  specimens  were  received  from  Mr.  J.  C.  Crispin,  Saratoga, 
McDonald  County,  Mo.,  with  report  that  this  insect  was  very  numerous 
on  wheat,  and  that  some  fields  might  have  to  be  plowed  up. 

In  a  communication  of  May  11,  Mr.  W.  E.  Campbell,  of  Ralli 
Brothers  Agency,  Greenville,  Tex.,  stated  that  a  few  da}\s  previous  to 
writing  the  weather  became  quite  warm,  causing  the  insects  to  leave 
that  section  and  go  farther  north.  They  appeared  to  be  better  suited 
to  cold,  damp  weather.  A  number  of  fields  in  that  vicinity  were  visited 
where  the  insects  had  been  particularly  troublesome,  without  finding  a 
specimen  at  that  time,  the  warmer  weather  having  apparently  driven 
them  completely  out  of  the  country. 


12 


NEWSPAPER  REFERENCES  TO  INJURIOUS  OCCURRENCES  IN  1901. 

Numerous  clippings  wore  received  from  newspapers  relative  to  the 
spread  of  this  grain  louse  and  destruction  wrought  by  itto small  grain 
crops  in  Texas  and  adjoining  territory  during  the  spring-  of  1901.  The 
following  are  transcribed: 

[Galveston  News,  March  21. J 

Denton,  Tex.,  March  IS. — W.  E.  Smoot,  of  Axgyle,  was  here  to-day  with  a  quantity 
of  the  little  green  insects  that  are  doing  so  much  damage  to  the  wheat.  The  insects 
are  present  in  myriads  and  the  big  wheat  farmers  are  taking  a  very  gloomy  view  of 
the  prospect,  many  of  them  believing  that  their  crops  are  irreparably  ruined.  Many 
of  them,  in  fact,  are  making  preparations  to  plant  the  injured  wheat  land  in  cotton 
or  corn. 

Farmers  who  were  here  ten  years  ago  say  that  the  present  visitation  is  exactly  like  ■ 
that  of  1891  and  that  the  entire  wheat  crop  of  several  counties  was  almost  entirely 
lost,  some  of  the  yield  being  as  low  as  half  a  bushel  to  the  acre  and  the  highest  not 
more  than  10  bushels. 

Gainesville,  Tex.,  March  12. — Dr.  W.  H.  Freeman,  who  lives  at  Era,  15  miles  west 
of  Gainesville,  in  speaking  of  the  growing  wheat,  said:  ''The  wheat  in  my  section  is 
literally  ruined,  and  the  farmers  will  have  to  plow  it  up  and  plant  the  ground  in  coi  n 
and  other  products." 

Sht  rrnan,  Tex.,  March  IS. — The  condition  of  the  wheat  crop  from  the  inroads  of  the 
Hessian  fly  or  some  similar  pest  is  attracting  much  attention.  In  some  localities  it 
is  said  that  the  wheat  crop  will  be  plowed  up  and  cotton  or  some  other  late  crop 
planted  instead. 

[Dallas  (Tex.)  Herald,  March  21.] 

Sherman,  Tex.,  March  21. — Great  alarm  is  felt  here  by  the  farmers  at  the  ravages 
of  a  small  green  bug  that  is  infesting  the  wheat  and  oats. 

[Dallas  (Tex.)  Herald,  March  22.] 

W.  II.  Marshall,  a  prominent  farmer  of  YVhitesboro,  Grayson  County,  said:  "The 
reports  about  the  damage  being  done  to  the  wheat  in  our  part  of  the  State  are  not 
exaggerated  in  the  least.  Hundreds  of  acres  have  been  killed  around  Whitesboro 
and  in  other  parts  of  Grayson  County.  The  flies  have  also  gotten  into  Collin  County 
and  are  doing  considerable  damage  there,  and  some  damage  has  been  done  in  Denton 
County.  Unless  the  ravages  are  checked  soon  we  will  have  to  buy  our  flour  and 
seed  wheat." 

[St.  Louis  (Mo.)  Republic,  March  24.] 

Reports  from  Texas  say  that  at  least  25  per  cent  of  the  wheat  crop  in  the  northern 
part  of  the  State  has  been  ruined  by  the  bug,  and  the  entire  crop  is  threatened. 

The  insects  are  seen  in  countless  numbers  in  the  growing  wheat.  Advices  from  all 
parts  of  Texas  say  that  the  pest  is  spreading,  but  appears  to  be  working  only  the 
stubble-ground  wheat. 

Owing  to  the  mildness  of  the  winter,  instead  of  being  killed  it  propagated  rapidly, 
and  apprehensions  are  felt  for  the  entire  crop.  So  far  wheat  on  the  cotton  ground 
does  not  appear  to  be  damaged. 

[Galveston  (Tex.)  News,  March  26.] 

Wdxakachie,  Tex.,  March  20. — Mr.  B.  F.  Cherry,  of  Midlothian,  this  county,  re- 
ported that  a  little  green  bug  was  doing  a  great  deal  of  damage  to  wheat  in  that 


13 


section  of  the  county  and  that  some  of  the  wheat  fields  near  there  had  been  almost 
entirely  destroyed  by  the  insect. 

Hutching,  Tex.,  March  96. — Mr.  A.  W.  Games  writes  to  the  News  that  he  has  just 
returned  from  an  examination  of  the  wheat  and  oat  fields  upon  the  county  farm,  and 
finds  that  the  entire  oat  crop — 30  acres — and  15  acres  in  a  wheat  crop  of  75  acres, 
have  been  entirely  destroyed.  The  bugs  are  still  working  upon  the  wheat,  marching 
from  east  to  west,  maintaining  a  straight  line  from  north  to  south,  as  though  they 
were  under  the  leadership  of  a  trained  tactician. 

Ennis,  Tex.,  March  26. — Mr.  E.  D.  Champion,  a  farmer  of  Oak  Grove,  said  to  a 
News  correspondent  that  wheat  in  his  community  has  been  suffering  from  an  insect 
pest,  though  it  is  coming  out  well  since  the  recent  rains. 

[Houston  (Tex.)  Post,  March  29.] 

SJterman,  Tex.,  March  28. — Holmes  Colbert,  one  of  the  prominent  Indian  planters 
of  the  Choctaw  Nation,  was  in  the  city  to-day.  Colbert  has  4,000  acres  in  wheat  and 
oats,  and  says  the  pest  has  appeared  in  the  Indian  Territory. 

[Fort  Worth  (Tex.)  Register,  March  31.] 

J.  C.  Martin,  who  lives  at  Riverside  and  has  recently  been  in  the  northern  part  of 
the  county,  says  that  the  damage  there  is  not  as  great  as  recorded,  although  there 
are  many  spots  perfectly  bare. 

D.  M.  Morgan,  of  the  cotton  belt,  says  the  crop  is  ruined  between  that  place  and 
Sulphur  Springs,  and  between  Dallas  and  Sherman,  and  also  between  this  city  and 
Thurber.    Mr.  Morgan  says  he  has  saved  his  own  crop  by  cultivation  with  a  weeder. 

Milt  Hampton,  who  was  in  from  near  Crowley  yesterday,  said  that  his  crop  of  200 
acres  was  so  badly  damaged  that  he  turned  his  cattle  in  on  it  and  will  plow  up  the 
ground  and  plant  cotton  and  some  other  crop. 

John  Day,  who  was  in  from  his  farm  in  the  northern  part  of  the  county,  said  that 
he  had  not  suffered  much,  but  some  of  the  crops  in  that  portion  of  the  county  were 
ruined. 

T.  X.  Bradburn  returned  Friday  night  from  a  week's  trip  up  the  Fort  Worth  and 
Denver  road,  stopping  at  nearly  all  the  stations  between  here  and  Iowa  Park.  He 
says  that  up  to  a  week  ago  the  Panhandle  had  the  finest  prospects  for  a  great  wheat 
crop,  but  now  the  wheat  has  been  greatly  injured  and  in  some  places  entirely  ruined. 
The  bugs  reached  Wichita  Falls  on  Tuesday  last  and  now  there  are  millions  of  them 
laying  waste  the  crops.    Many  fields,  he  says,  between  here  and  there  are  ruined. 

[Dallas  (Tex. )  News.  April  2.] 

Denison,  Tex.,  April  1. — W.  B.  Chiles,  a  prominent  farmer  living  near  Pottsboro, 
states  that  the  grain-destroying  insect  is  doing  great  damage  in  his  section  of  the 
country.  They  fly  about  late  in  the  afternoon.  At  times  the  air  is  full  of  them  and 
they  travel  with  the  wind.    They  are  now  working  especially  on  oats. 

J.  W.  Badgett,  who  lives  east  of  Colbert,  Chickasaw  Nation,  said:  "  I  stated  last 
week  that  we  had  no  signs  of  the  insect,  but  the  case  has  been  reversed;  this  week 
we  have  them,  and  by  the  thousands.  They  seem  to  be  concentrating  on  oats,  but 
I  believe  that  unless  steps  of  precaution  are  taken,  they  will  kill  our  corn  before  it 
is  old  enough  to  escape  them.  I  have  been  farming  a  long  time,  but  I  have  never 
seen  anything  like  this  work  on  grain.  I  am  going  to  make  an  experiment  Monday. 
I  will  run  a  harrow  over  my  grain  and  then  roll  it  with  a  heavy  log.  This  will  kill 
the  insects  and  even  if  our  oats  are  killed  by  the  remedy,  we  will  thereby  save  our 
corn. 

[Dallas  (Tex.)  Herald,  April  11.]  a 

Rhome,  Tex.,  April. — The  ravages  of  wheat  and  oats  insects  are  causing  great  depres- 
sion of  spirits  among  the  farmers  of  this  county.    A  large  part  of  the  wheat  acreage 


14 


is  completely  ruined  by  the  insects,  while  other  portions  are  scarcely  touched.  Much 
of  the  wheat  will  be  plowed  up  and  cotton  planted. 

[Galveston  News,  April  17.] 

Entli8,  Tex.,  April  15. — Mr.  George  Hoggs,  of  Telico,  said  to-day  that  myriads  of 
green  bugs  fell  upon  his  corn  yesterday  and  covered  it  up,  and  he  will  begin  to-mor- 
row to  plant  June  corn  between  the  rows. 

[Dallas  (Tex.)  News,  April  17.] 

Kingston,  Tex.,  April  15. — The  ravages  of  the  green  bug  have  almost  destroyed  the 
oat  crop  in  this  vicinity.  The  wheat  crop  is  improving  and  looking  better;  it  seem- 
to  be  outgrowing  the  injuries  of  the  bug.  Yesterday  it  was  warm  and  the  bugs 
seemed  to  be  on  the  move  south.  The  air  was  thick  with  them  during  the  entire 
■  lav  and  some  farmers  report  them  leaving  their  fields. 

Fate,  Tex.,  April  15. — Large  fields  of  the  spring  oats  have  been  entirely  destroyed 
by  the  little  green  bugs.  Winter  oats  and  wheat  have  not  fared  better,  but  c  an  hold 
out  longer  on  account  of  being  better  rooted.  It  was  thought  that  the  little  pest 
would  not  bother  the  corn,  but  all  corn  is  badly  damaged  and  some  fields  look  as  if 
they  would  have  to  be  planted  over. 

[Nevada  (Tex.)  News,  April  19.] 

We  have  interviewed  several  farmers  this  week  from  different  parts  of  the  county 
relative  to  the  work  of  destruction  that  has  been  done  to  the  small  grain  crop.  The 
majority  of  them  say  that  the  oat  crop  will  be  a  total  failure  and  that  the  wheat  crop 
at  the  outside  will  be  cut  short  50  per  cent.  The  farmers  say  that  where  corn  has 
come  up  that  it  is  being  attacked  by  the  pest  and  will  no  doubt  be  ruined.  Some 
few  have  begun  to  plant  their  corn  over. 

[Dallas  (Tex.)  Herald,  April  23.] 

McKinney,  Tex.}  April  23. — The  green  bugs  filled  the  air  yesterday,  making  their 
exodus,  leaving  behind  them  hundreds  of  acres  of  blighted  wheat  and  oats. 

[San  Antonio  (Tex.)  Express,  April  23.] 

Sherman,  Te.c,  April  23. — Farmers  from  various  sections  of  the  country  who  were  in 
Sherman  to-day  stated  that  green  lice  are  still  swarming.  They  seem  to  be  leaving 
the  corn,  to  the  great  satisfaction  of  the  farmers. 

[Galveston  (Tex.)  News,  April  24.] 

Fort  Worth,  Tex.,  April  23. — The  executive  committee  of  the  Millers'  Association 
held  a  meeting  here  this  afternoon,  and  the  greater  portion  of  the  time  was  consumed 
in  hearing  reports  of  the  damage  done  to  the  wheat  crop  by  the  green  bugs. 

Henry  Landa,  a  member  of  the  committee,  from  Xew  Braunfels,  said  that  the  dam- 
age to  the  large  wheat  counties  would  reach  75  per  cent;  and  that,  in  Grayson,  Cook, 
and  Denton  counties  especially,  it  was  reported  the  farmers  would  not  make  seed,  and 
would  not,  in  a  number  of  the  larger  wheat  counties,  get  back  as  much  wheat  as  they 
had  put  in  the  ground.  Mr.  Landa  thinks  the  situation  is  very  unfavorable  for  the 
millers,  as  some  will  not  be  able  to  run  their  mills,  and  others  will  have  to  go  out  of 
the  State  to  get  their  grain. 

[Dallas  (Tex.)  News,  April  24.] 

Persons  who  were  on  the  streets  in  certain  portions  of  this  city  were  vexed  by  the 
countless  numbers  of  little  bugs  that  clung  to  their  clothing  so  tenaciously  that  it  was 
almost  impossible  to  brush  them  off.  In  some  places  they  were  so  numerous  as  to 
present  the  appearance  of  an  Indian  summer  haze. 


15 


These  were  the  famous  green  bugs  or  plant-lice,  whose  ravages  in  this  section  this 
year  have  cost  the  farmers  many  and  many  a  dollar.  They  were  all  northward  bound, 
their  departure  from  the  grain  fields  being  caused  doubtless  by  the  warm  weather 
now  prevailing. 

Of  the  number  that  took  wing  for  cooler  regions  there  are  probably  several  billions 
that  will  never  raid  another  grain  field.  The  English  sparrows — the  pest  of  the  city — 
began  at  daybreak  a  war  of  extermination  upon  the  pests  that  ended  only  at  twilight. 
Twittering  with  delight,  they  sailed  in  flocks  through  the  clouds  of  bugs,  devouring 
all  they  could  hold.  These  attacks,  however,  caused  no  perceptible  diminution  in 
numbers. 

An  instance  of  the  loss  caused  by  the  lice  was  reported  here  during  the  day.  A 
Dallas  County  tenant  farmer  had  many  acres  in  wheat  and  oats  which  these  bugs  com- 
pletely destroyed. 

[Houston  (Tex.)  Post,  April  25J 

Cleburne,  Tex.,  April  22. — The  green  bug  is  killing  oats  north  of  the  city  and  has 
devastated  several  fields  in  this  neighborhood. 

[Dallas  (Tex.)  News,  April  25.] 

McKinney,  Tex.,  April  24. — The  News  correspondent  traveled  over  the  county  from 
McKinney  to  the  Shain  ranch  beyond  Celina,  a  distance  of  22  miles;  thence  south 
along  the  Denton  and  Collin  County  line  to  the  ranch  of  Parvin,  18  miles  west  of 
McKinney;  thence  east  of  McKinney  yesterday.  'The  devastated  wheat  and  oat 
fields  presented  a  fall-like  appearance,  owing  to  the  brown  color  so  much  like  stubble 
land.  Thousands  of  acres  will  be  idle  this  year  for  want  of  labor  to  replant.  It  is  a 
scene  of  desolation  in  every  direction  in  west  Collin. 

Denison,  Tex.,  April  24- — James  Jacobs,  a  farmer  from  the  country  a  few  miles  west, 
says  the  bugs  are  still  active  and  seem  to  breed  as  long  as  there  is  anything  green  to 
feed  upon.  He  has  noticed,  however,  that  the  sun  kills  them  as  quickly  as  their 
wings  grow. 

Sherman,  Tex.,  April  25. — Statements  from  authentic  sources  that  the  green  bugs 
are  leaving  in  great  swarms  continue  to  come  in  from  all  sides. 

[St.  Louis  (Mo.)  Republic,  April  26.1 

Kansas  (My,  Mo.,  April  24. — Grain  men  who  are  going  over  the  wheat  fields  of 
Oklahoma  say  there  is  a  genuine  alarm  entertained  because  of  an  invasion  of  the 
green  bugs. 

Henry  Lason,  of  El  Reno,  and  C.  H.  Stevens,  of  the  Purcell  mill,  report  the  louse 
as  making  inroads  in  the  summer  wheat  to  the  extent  of  threatening  to  destroy  a 
vast  acreage.  The  Government  report  shows  last  week  the  louse  was  confined  south 
of  Guthrie,  but  now  it  is  reported  nearing  the  Kansas  line.  The  winter  hard  wheat 
is  not  attacked.  Cold  weather  has  no  effect.  In  places  the  entire  space  in  the  fields 
attacked  is  absolutely  dead,  though  wheat  is  knee-high. 

[Fredericksburg  (Tex.)  Star,  April  27.] 

The  wheat  fields  of  Meridian  have  a  new  and  destructive  enemy.  The  farmers 
are  very  anxious  about  them.  They  fear  that  the  wheat  crop  will  be  utterly 
destroyed  by  them.  Some  crops  are  reported  as  already  destroyed,  and  the  owners 
are  thinking  of  plowing  up  the  fields  and  planting  them  in  corn. 

The  oldest  inhabitants  have  never  seen  anything  like  them.  They  are  about  the 
size  and  shape  of  the  mites  which  are  sometimes  seen  on  cabbage-stalk  sprouts  in  the 
spring,  but  their  color  is  a  deep  dark  green,  about  the  shade  of  the  green  blade  on 
which  they  feed,  and  sometimes  6  to  8  will  be  found  on  a  blade.  In  a  few  days  the 
blade  turns  yellow  and  begins  to  dry  up.    They  also  abound  on  the  winter  oats. 


16 


[Galveston  (Tex.)  News,  May  18.] 

Sherman,  Tex.,  May  17. — J.  P.  Harrison,  president  of  the  Texas  Grain  Dealers1 
Association,  in  reviewing  the  grain  crop,  said  to  the  News  reporter:  "There  will  be  no 
oats  raised  in  Texas  north  of  Waco.  In  Coryell  and  adjacent  counties  the  reports  are 
not  quite  so  discouraging,  and  it  may  be  that  sections  may  produce  enough  to  supply 
Texas  with  seed.  The  condition  in  Texas  is  duplicated  in  the  Indian  Territory, 
where  the  situation  can  be  attributed  directly  t<»  the  green  bugs.  In  Oklahoma  the 
bugs  did  not  do  much  damage.  But  for  drought,  which  came  and  finished  their 
work,  Oklahoma  might  have  had  a  pretty  fair  crop.  There  will  be  little  or  no  wheat 
made.  Occasionally  a  held  is  heard  from  that  will  harvest  a  fair  yield.  I  can  only 
account  for  it  on  the  theory  that  the  fields  were  a  little  forward  and  the  stalks  tough 
enough  to  withstand  the  bug." 

[Galveston  (Tex.)  News,  May  30.] 

The  small  grain  crop  of  the  State  will  not  exceed  one-fourth  of  last  year's  yield. 
The  average  in  wheat  and  oats  is  less  and  the  conditions  75  per  cent  below  the  aver- 
age of  May,  1900.  The  yield  is  cut  short  owing  to  the  early  spring  drought  and  to 
the  ravages  of  the  aphis  or  green  bug.  The  damage  by  the  pest,  although  amount- 
ing to  total  losses  in  many  fields  in  choice  grain  counties,  is  slight  compared  with 
general  damage  due  to  want  of  moisture  early  in  the  growing  season.  The  reports 
annexed  cover  161  counties,  105  of  which  were  free  of  the  insect  pest,  while  all  the 
counties  reported  suffered  for  the  want  of  moisture. 

The  pests  appeared  in  numbers  early  in  April,  multiplied  rapidly,  were  rapacious 
of  appetite,  and  gluttonous  without  apparent  satiation,  repletion,  or  surfeit,  and  began 
to  disappear  in  flurries  in  May.  When  the  bugs  attained  the  atrial  stage  they  rose 
in  a  body  from  the  ravaged  field,  took  flight,  remained  on  the  wing  for  hours,  and 
drifted  with  the  wind.  During  storms  they  sought  safety  near  the  base  of  the  wheat 
or  oat  blades.  The  farms  intervening  between  the  points  of  ascent  and  descent 
sustained  no  insect  damage,  but  suffered  from  drought.  The  drought  preceded 
the  advent  of  the  aphis,  the  40  counties  reporting  "green  bugs "  also  chronicling  an 
early  spring  drought.  The  percentage  of  losses  where  not  separately  given  combine 
the  damage  from  both  causes. 

The  wheat  crop  in  the  Chickasaw  and  Cherokee  and  portions  of  the  other  three 
nations  in  the  Indian  Territory,. and  in  Oklahoma,  ravaged  by  the  grain  louse,  has 
greatly  reduced  the  value  of  this  year's  crop  in  those  Territories.  In  some  regions 
the  injury  has  been  so  great  that  farmers  have  preferred  to  replant  the  wheat  acreage 
to  some  other  crop.  The  louse,  like  its  relative  in  Texas,  is  capable  of  very  rapid 
multiplication,  is  gluttonous  in  appetite,  and  is  favored  by  dry  weather.  The  gen- 
eral trend  of  the  migration  of  the  insect,  as  in  Texas,  was  from  south  to  north. 

GENERAL  REMARKS. 

In  view  of  the  overwhelming  evidence  as  to  the  destructivenes>  of 
this  pest  to  wheat  and  oats  in  the  grain-producing-  States,  it  seems 
strange  that  it  should  have  escaped  notice  until  the  year  1884. 

Whether  this  plant-louse  is  indigenous  to  this  country  or  whether 
it  has  been  introduced  from  abroad  is  a  difficult  question  to  answer. 
At  any  rate  according  to  the  notes  of  the  Department  of  Agriculture, 
it  was  first  observed  in  the  more  central  section  of  States  bordering 
the  Atlantic  Ocean,  which  seems  to  indicate  that  in  some  way  it  man- 
aged to  reach  our  shores  on  a  vessel  from  the  southern  part  of  Europe, 
entering  one  or  the  other  of  the  ports  of  this  central  section,  from 


Bu!  38,  New  Series,  Div.  of  Entomology,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Agriculture. 


Plate  I. 


The  Southern  Grain  Louse  (Toxoptera  qraminum). 

a.  Apterous  female;  l>.  larva;  e,  pupa:  d.  w  inged  migrant:  r,  antenna  of  migrant— all  enlarged 

(original ). 


17 


which  it  managed  to  spread  and  to  establish  small  colonies  here  and 
there  on  various  grasses,  suited  to  its  taste,  which  insured  it  a  foothold 
in  this  country  and  enabled  it  to  multiply  without  being  detected  in 
time  to  adopt  heroic  measures  for  its  extermination.  The  assumption 
of  its  foreign  origin  seems  the  more  reasonable  since  otherwise  its 
presence  on  small  grain  would  have  been  observed  from  the  earliest 
time  that  these  cereals  were  grown  in  this  country. 

After  its  introduction  it  has  naturally  migrated  in  various  directions, 
and  established  small,  isolated  colonies  which  have  given  it  a  chance 
to  obtain  a  foothold  and  to  escape  observation  and  detection.  From 
these  ''enters  of  infection  and  with  the  assistance  of  air  currents  it 
would  be  enabled  to  spread  unobserved  to  far  distant  sections  until  it 
reached  grain-pyoducing  areas,  the  tender  and  succulent  plants  of 
which  are  more  suited  to  its  taste.  Thus  it  has  multiplied  rapidly  and 
spread  from  held  to  held  and  from  State  to  State.  Notwithstanding 
that  millions  of  the  migrants  are  killed  during  this  flight,  enough  remain 
to  stock  new  regions. 

At  the  time  of  migration,  which  in  the  Southern  States,  as  far  as 
observed,  takes  place  in  May,  most  of  the  wheat  and  oats  which 
escaped  injury  had  become  so  tall  and  vigorous  as  to  withstand  attack. 
Possibly  such  growth  may  be  unfit  for  the  sustenance  of  this  plant 
louse. 

Whether  the  species  really  thrives  on  corn  or  not  is  an  open  question. 
Thus  far  it  has  never  been  received  by  this  Department  from  any  of 
the  corn-growing  sections.  The  writer  is  rather  of  the  opinion  that 
the  plant-louse  frequently  observed  on  corn  is  the  common  corn  aphis. 
Aphis  maidis  Fitch,  which  somewhat  resembles  this  grain  louse  both 
in  size  and  general  coloration. 

What  becomes  of  the  survivors  after  leaving  the  grain  remains  an 
unsolved  problem.  It  seems,  however,  quite  natural  that  during  the 
warmer  season,  after  the  harvesting  of  the  grain,  the}'  will  subsist 
upon  various  succulent  grasses  growing  in  damp  and  moist  localities, 
such  as  the  borders  of  rivers,  creeks,  swamps,  or  similar  places,  and 
perhaps  also  on  volunteer  wheat  and  oats  coming  up  in  the  fields. 
These  would  afford  them  a  chance  to  survive  and  multiply  until  the 
new  grain  makes  its  appearance  above  ground. 

As  with  other  aphides,  a  sexual  generation  will  appear  at  the  proper 
time,  and  with  it  the  eggs,  for  the  preservation  of  the  species.  The 
great  majority  of  our  indigenous  species  of  plant-lice  produce  the 
sexual  generation  during  the  fall  of  the  year,  the  eggs  of  which  remain 
dormant  till  the  time  at  which  a  new  cycle  of  plant  life  appears.  A 
few,  however,  produce  the  sexes  and  their  eggs  during  the  latter  part 
of  spring  or  early  summer,  to  hatch  the  following  spring.  What  are 
the  habits  of  this  grain  aphis  in  this  respect  it  is  difficult  to  say. 
Taking  into  consideration  the  very  early  appearance  of  the  lice  in 
3622— No.  38—04  2 


18 


perceptible  numbers  on  young  grain,  it  appears  probable  that  one  or 
another  generation,  descendants  of  the  migrants  from  grain,  produces 
a  sexual  generation  and  consequent  eggs  on  some  kind  of  grass,  which 
may  hatch  during  the  fall  of  the  same  year  instead  of  the  following 
spring,  in  time  to  produce  a  winged  generation.  This  last  probably 
re-migrates  to  young  winter  wheat,  to  restock  it  with  lice,  and  many 
would  undoubtedly  perish  during  the  cold  and  wet  season,  though 
enough  of  them  would  survive  to  reproduce  when  the  climatic  condi- 
tions become  more  favorable. 

The  whereabouts  of  the  species  after  leaving  the  grain,  the  hiding 
place  of  the  sexes  and  their  eggs,  and  the  reappearance  on  grain,  are 
highly  interesting  and  important  questions,  which  entomologists  of 
infected  sections  should  strive  to  solve  for  the  benefit  of  those  engaged 
in  the  cultivation  of  small  grain. 

DESCRIPTION  OF  THE  SPECIES. 

Apterous  female. — Length  1-1. 8mm;  color  yellowish  green  and  slightly  pruinous.  the' 
median  line  darker  green,  the  head  and  prothorax  somewhat  paler  than  the  rest  of 
fhe  body.  Eyes  black.  Antennae  black,  the  two  basal  joints  and  more  or  less  of 
the  third  joint  at  base  yellowish.  Legs  yellowish,  the  tibiae  brownish  toward  the 
apex,  tarsi  black;  nectaries  greenish  and  frequently  with  a  dusky  tinge,  their  apex 
black.  Tail  dusky.  The  general  color  of  the  larvae  and  pupae  is  like  that  of  the 
apterous  female.  Wing  pads  of  pupa  dusky  to  black.  Antennae  slender  and  about 
one-half  the  length  of  the  body.  Nectaries  slightly  tapering,  reaching  to  or  slightly 
beyond  the  end  of  the  body.  Tail  slender,  somewhat  constricted  about  the  middle, 
and  about  two-thirds  the  length  of  the  nectaries.  There  is  a  distinct  fleshy  tubercle 
each  side  of  the  prothorax  and  similar  tubercles  along  both  sides  of  the  abdomen. 

Migratory  female. — Exjmnse  of  wings  5-7mm;  length  of  body  1.5-2mm.  General  color- 
ation of  the  abdomen  as  in  the  apterous  forms;  head  brownish  yellow;  the  eyes  brown; 
antennae,  thoracic  lobes,  the  posterior  margin  of  the  scutellum  and  the  sternal  plate 
black;  the  two  basal  joints  of  the  antennae  yello  wish  green;  legs  yellow,  the  femora  more 
or  less  dusky,  the  posterior  pair  darkest;  apex  of  tibiae  and  the  tarsi  black;  nectaries 
and  tail  yellowish,  the  latter  changing  gradually  to  dusky  or  black  toward  the  end; 
wings  transparent;  costa  and  subcosta  yellow;  the  stigma  somewhat  paler,  its  inner 
edge  and  the  veins  black.  Third  discoidal  vein  with  but  one  fork.  Antennae  long 
and  slender,  reaching  nearly  to  the  end  of  the  body,  the  third  joint  provided  with 
3  to  7  sensoria.  Nectaries,  tail,  and  lateral  tubercles,  as  in  the  apterous  females. 
(See  PI.  1.) 

NATURAL  ENEMIES. 

As  natural  enemies  of  this  species  in  Europe,  Rondani  mentions 
Scyrrmus  b-pustulatus  Fab.,  a  small  Coccinellid  or  ladybird,  the  adult 
and  larva?  of  which  feed  upon  the  lice;  Paragus  coadunatus  Rondani. 
a  two-winged  S}Trphid  fly,  whose  larva  preys  extensively  upon  all 
kinds  of  plant-lice;  and  a  minute  h}mienopterous  insect,  Aphidim 
aphidwm  L.,  a  true  internal  parasite. 

Of  the  most  effective  predaceous  insects  which  have  been  observed 
to  feed  upon  this  grain  Aphidid  in  the  infested  regions  of  the  United 
States,  the  following  ma}'  be  mentioned:  Two  ladybirds,  Hippodamia 


19 


convergent  Guer.,and  Cocdnella  9-notata  Hbst.,  both  of  which,  in  the 
adult  as  well  as  in  the  larval  state,  feed  ravenously  on  the  lice,  though 
the  larvae  are  frequently  suspected  by  grain  growers  of  being  the 
parents  of  the  lice,  especially  if  found  to  be  numerous  in  infested  fields; 
and  larva?  of  various  Syrphid  flies  and  Chrysopids  or  lacewing  flies, 
which  are  even  more  voracious  than  those  of  the  Coccinellids. 

Man}'  of  the  lice  are  also  killed  by  the  larva?  of  a  small  and  slender 
black  internal  parasite,  Lysiplilehus  tritici  Ashm. ,  which  preys  upon 
various  species  of  plant-lice,  frequently  killing  large  colonies  within  a 
short  time.  The  larva  of  this  species  does  not  leave  its  host,  but 
transforms  within  the  puffed  up  and  empty  shells  of  the  aphides, 
man}'  of  which  may  readily  be  observed  adhering  tightly  to  the  stems 
or  blades  of  the  grain.  The  little  parasite,  when  ready  to  leave  its 
host,  cuts  out  a  neat  circular  piece,  generally  near  the  end  of  the 
body,  and  escapes  through  the  opening. 

METHODS  OF  CONTROL. 

Owing  to  the  practical  impossibility  of  applying  kerosene  emulsion 
or  similar  washes  so  as  to  destroy  insects  which  develop  on  standing 
grain,  particularly  such  as  feed  by  suction,  we  must  look  to  other 
methods  for  the  successful  treatment  of  this  plant-louse.  Three  or 
four  other  forms  of  plant-lice  usually  occur  in  more  abundance  than 
the  species  under  discussion,  and  it  has  been  found  by  experience  that 
these,  as  well  as  the  present  species,  are  very  largely  controlled  by 
natural  conditions,  sudden  changes  in  the  atmosphere,  and  such  para- 
sitic and  other  natural  enemies  as  have  just  been  considered.  Lady- 
birds and  fungus  diseases  are  the  most  important  factors  in  reducing 
the  numbers  of  this  pest.  The  year  1901  was  particularly  favorable 
for  the  multiplication  of  this  plant-louse  in  Texas,  but,  as  usually 
happens,  the  cool,  moist  weather  of  early  spring,  which .  favored  the 
increase  of  the  pest,  was  followed  later  in  the  season  by  a  sufficient 
period  of  dry  and  sunny  weather  to  enable  the  natural  enemies,  nearly 
all  of  which  are  most  active  in  such  weather,  to  gain  the  ascendency, 
and  this  they  did,  practically  exterminating  the  lice  in  the  region 
affected.  It  should  only  be  necessary  to  add  that  most  other  species 
of  plant-lice  are  controlled  in  precisely  the  same  manner,  and  it  is  sel- 
dom that  they  are  destructive  for  more  than  one  or  two  seasons  in 
succession.  Examples  are  to  be  found  in  the  cabbage  louse,  melon 
louse,  and  the  destructive  green  pea  louse,  which  was  such  an  enemy 
to  the  pea  industry  throughout  the  more  northern  portion  of  our  coun- 
try during  the  years  1899  and  1900,  from  the  Atlantic  coast  to  Wis- 
consin. This  last  insect  practically  disappeared  as  a  pest  during  1901, 
and  up  to  the  date  of  writing  has  only  appeared  in  numbers  in  a  few 
isolated  localities,  so  far  as  we  know,  in  the  District  of  Columbia  and 
immediate  vicinity. 


20 


REPORT  OF  AN  INVESTIGATION  OF  DISEASED  COCOANTJT  PALMS 

IN  CUBA. 

By  August  Busck. 

Iii  August,  1901,  I  was  instructed  to  proceed  to  Habana,  Cuba,  and 
report  to  the  military  governor  there  in  order  to  investigate  a  disease 
which  threatened  the  cocoanut  industry  in  the  province  of  Santiago. 

In  accordance  with  instructions,  I  left  Washington  August  7  and, 
arriving-  in  Havana  on  the  !<>th,  reported  in  the  palado  to  the  adjutant- 
general.  Col.  J.  H.  Seott.  The  same  day  I  sailed  with  his  instruc- 
tions for  Baracoa,  on  the  northeast  corner  of  the  island,  arriving  there 
August  li.  The  country  around  Baracoa  is  the  only  remaining  cocoa- 
nut  region  of  importance  in  Cuba,  and  the  industry  is  the  main  sup- 
port of  that  part  of  the  island,  from  which  large  shipments  of  great 
value  are  annually  exported  to  the  United  States. 

The  country  of  that  region  is  mountainous,  rough,  very  fertile,  and 
picturesque  with  palm-covered  mountain  sides,  deep  valleys,  and  large 
rivers.  There  are  no  wagon  roads,  and  travel  is  on  horseback  along 
narrow  and  often  difficult  trails. 

There  were  no  diseased  palms  in  the  immediate  neighborhood  of 
Baracoa,  but  going  out  some  10  miles  east  along  the  coast,  yellow, 
drooping  tops  and  naked  trunks  began  to  appear,  and  still  farther  out 
around  Mata  and  neighboring  towns  the  disease  reached  its  highest 
development.  Here  large  areas  were  attacked,  and  already  from  10  to 
nearly  100  per  cent  of  the  trees  were  lost.  Serious  damage  was  quite 
evident,  and  the  lamentations  of  the  natives  and  their  anxious  inquiries 
as  to  how  to  save  their  sole  property  were  most  natural. 

The  first  outward  indication  that  a  palm  is  attacked  is  the  falling  of 
the  young  fruit;  shortly  afterwards  the  larger  nuts  drop  and  the  leaves 
assume  a  pale  yellowish  color. 

Within  a  month  all  the  large  lower  leaves  droop  and  fall,  leaving 
the  pale,  sickly  tops,  which  at  the  first  heavy  wind  blow  over  and  then 
only  the  naked  trunks  stand  as  ghastly  tombstones  where  a  few  months 
before  stood  graceful  valuable  palms.  Palms  of  all  ages  are  subject 
to  this  disease,  though  it  seems  more  prevalent  among  the  older  plants. 

On  felling  a  palm  and  examining  it.  it  is  apparent  that  tin1  trouble 
is  not  found  in  the  root  or  main  part  of  the  small  trunk.  From  the 
root  upward  to  within  a  few  inches  from  the  top,  the  trunk  may  be 
fresh  and  sound  with  practically  no  insect  of  any  kind  and  with  no 
fungus  mycelium.  Just  below  the  top  and  in  between  the  bases  of  the 
leaves  were  found,  in  nearly  all  of  the  three  hundred  odd  palms  in 
different  stages  of  disease  which  were  cut  down  during  my  investiga- 
n  tion,  the  galleries  of  Scolytids  or  ambrosia  beetles  {Xyleborus  spp.), 
rarely,  however,  in  such  numbers  as  to  arouse  suspicion  of  the  beetles 
being  the  cause  of  the  death  of  the  palms. 


21 


In  and  around  these  holes  and  perforating  the  entire  upper  part  of 
the  trunk  for  2  to  10  inches  downward  was  found  the  mycelium  of  a 
fungus,  the  fruiting  bodies  of  which  came  forth  as  small  white  spots 
on  the  under  side  of  the  leaves  and  which  might  easily,  on  hasty  exam- 
ination, be  confounded  with  Aspidiotus  scales  which  were  often  found 
there. 

This  parasitic  fungus  has  been  identified  by  Mrs.  F.  W.  Patterson, 
mycologist,  and  Mr.  A.  F.  Woods,  pathologist,  of  the  Department  of 
Agriculture,  as  Pestalnzz'm  paimarum  Cooke.  They  inform  me  that 
though  they  have  no  record  of  the  particular  damage,  "  it  is  extremely 
probable  that  this  fungus  is  the  cause  of  the  diseased  condition  of  the 
trees.'*  as  they  have  records  of  similar  causes  in  other  trees. 

Breaking  off  the  lower  leaves  and  cutting  the  center  of  the  green 
growing  part  open,  the  heart  of  the  palm  is  found  to  be  one  putrid 
offensively  smelling  mass,  filled  with  maggots  of  various  scavenger  flies. 
By  examining  palms  in  various  stages  of  sickness,  it  was  found  that  the 
putrefaction  began  within  the  sheet  around  the  young,  still  unfolded 
flower  stalks  and  gradually  worked  downward  to  the  center  of  the 
plant,  and  while  the  primary  cause  of  the  death  of  the  palm  undoubtedly 
is  the  fungus,  the  nature  and  foul  smell  of  the  diseased  parts  seemed 
to  indicate  some  bacteriological  influence,  when  the  palm  is  already 
weakened  by  the  fungus  and  doomed  to  die. 

In  from  one  to  three  months  after  first  attack  full  destruction  takes 
place  and  the  trunk  stands  naked;  and  though  it  is  still  fresh  and  appar- 
ently sound,  it  soon  disintegrates  through  the  work  of  termites  or  white 
ants  and  other  insects. 

The  fatal  nature  of  the  disease  precludes  a  remedy  for  trees  already 
infected  and  leaves  only  the  prevention  of  the  spread  of  the  disease  as 
the  object  for  man's  intervention. 

As  the  most  natural  means  of  preventing  the  spread  of  the  disease, 
the  cutting  down  and  burning  up  of  the  diseased  palms  suggests  itself, 
and  Mr.  A.  F.  AVoods  agrees  that  this  is  one  of  the  best  ways  of  com- 
batting it.  In  a  small  and  necessarily  incomplete  way  I  satisfied 
myself  of  the  practical  results  of  this  preventive.  Shortly  after  my 
irrival  I  observed  one  large  grove  with  only  two  isolated  dying  palms. 
These  I  had  cut  down  at  once  and  removed  the  infested  parts  to  my 
aeadquarters  for  examination.  During  my  entire  stay  no  more  palms 
in  that  grove  showed  signs  of  disease,  although  in  other  tracts  with 
ack  palms  left  standing  new  cases  of  infestation  were  observed  in 
lumbers  every  week. 

The  procedure  of  felling  and  burning  many  palms  ma}'  seem  too 
enormous  an  undertaking,  but  considering  the  interests  at  stake  it  is 
i  small  matter  and  comparatively  easy  of  execution. 

Without  such  drastic  measures  the  present  conditions  and  the  rapid 
spreading  of  the  disease  certainly  foreshadow  total  destruction  of  the 


22 


cocoanut  industry,  a  very  serious  matter  for  the  population  of  that 
part  of  the  island  of  Cuba. 

It  is  not  necessary  to  burn  the  entire  trunk,  which  would  involve 
extra  labor,  but  only  the  top  with  a  couple  of  feet  of  the  upper  end 
of  the  trunk. 

But  it  is  necessary  to  have  united  action  in  order  to  make  the  remedy 
of  any  real  value,  as  it  is  evidently  futile  for  the  proprietor  of  one 
estate  to  eradicate  the  disease  within  its  limits  if  the  owners  of  neigh- 
boring estates  omit  the  precautions  and  allow  the  disease  to  multiply 
and  send  its  spores  abroad  to  the  others.  I  therefore  suggest  local 
legislation,  which  would  make  it  compulsoiy  on  every  owner  to  cut 
down  palms  as  soon  as  they  show  infection  and  have  the  diseased  parts 
burned;  and,  furthermore,  that  some  trustworthy,  intelligent  man  be 
constituted  inspector  with  the  duty  to  inspect  weekly  the  entire  region 
and  with  power  to  have  cut  down  at  once  and  burned  at  owner's 
expense  any  sick  palm  found  omitted. 

Such  action,  together  with  advice  to  plant  new  cocoanut  palms,  will, 
1  fully  believe,  save  the  greater  part  of  this  important  industry,  which 
otherwise  seems  doomed  to  annihilation. 

The  insects  found  to  be  connected  with  the  cocoa  palm  in  this 
Baracoa  district  were  few  and  all  of  secondary  or  of  no  economic 
importance.  The  only  ones  which  may  form  an  exception  are  the 
Scolytids  {Xylehorus  spp.)  through  the  holes  of  which  the  fungus 
doubtless  gains  eas}T  entrance  to  the  palms.  These  beetles  are  not 
alwa}Ts  present  and  evidently  do  not  constitute  the  only  means  for  the 
spores  to  reach  their  destination.  It  is  not  impossible  that  they  are 
altogether  innocent  and  merely  come  after  the  weakened  condition  of 
the  palm,  as  Mr.  E.  A.  Schwarz  suggests  is  probable.  But  as  carriers 
of  the  spores  from  palm  to  palm  these  insects  and  numerous  scavenger 
flies  which  are  attracted  to  the  sick  palms  may  be  of  importance.  The 
most  common  of  these  are  the  strikingly  beautiful  metallic-green 
Volucella  obesa  Fab.  and  the  curious  long-legged  Odtobata  nebulosd 
Loew. 

On  the  underside  of  the  leaves  and  on  the  green  fruit  was  found 
quite  commonly,  but  never  in  dangerous  numbers,  the  destructive 
scale  insect,  AspidwUis  destructor,  which  everywhere  in  that  region 
was  kept  well  in  check  by  the  black,  red-spotted  ladybird,  Ohilocoru^ 
cacti  Linn. 

A  large  beetle,  Strataegus  titanus  Fab.,  was  often  found  among  the 
flowers  of  the  cocoas  and  was  invariably  accused  hy  the  natives  of 
being  the  cause  of  all  the  trouble,  while  in  reality  it  did  little  or  no 
harm  in  eating  the  pollen  and  possibly  the  tender  shoots.  The  larva 
lives  in  decayed  wood. 

Of  the  palm  weevil,  Rhynchophorus  palmarum,  which  before  nry 
trip  was  suspected  as  being  the  possible  cause,  not  one  was  found  and 
no  other  borer  than  the  Scolytids  previously  mentioned. 


23 


The  long  double  rows  of  egg-holes  of  the  large  Cicada  bicosta  Walk, 
were  quite  commonly  found  on  the  underside  of  the  stalks  of  the  lower 
leaves,  but  the  damage  is  insignificant. 

THE  PALM  AND  PALMETTO  WEEVILS. 

By  F.  H.  Chittenden. 

As  in  a  measure  supplementary  to  the  report  of  an  investigation 
conducted  by  Mr.  August  Busck,  of  this  office,  on  diseased  cocoanut 
palms  in  Cuba,  due  to  the  fungus  Pestalozzia  palmarum  Cooke,  but 
supposed  to  have  been  caused  by  the  palm  weevil  {Rhynchophorus 
palmarum  Linn.),  the  following  account  of  that  species  and  the  pal- 
metto wreevil  (R.  cruentatus  Fab.)  has  been  prepared.  It  is  somewhat 
singular  that  at  the  time  Mr.  Busck  was  prosecuting  this  investiga- 
tion the  palm  weevil  was  not  once  encountered,  but  the  palmetto 
weevil  was  doing  injury  to  the  date  palm  in  Florida.  The  latter, 
although  well  known,  has  not  attained  any  prominence  as  a  pest,  but 
we  have  an  extensive  account  of  the  palm  weevil  by  Mr.  W.  F.  H. 
Blandford,  published  originally  in  the  Kew  Bulletin  of  February- 
March,  1893  (pp.  27-60). 

THE  PALM  WEEVIL. 

(Rhj/ncJiophorus  palmarum  Linn. ) 

With  the  establishment  of  the  growing  of  cocoanut  palms  in  British 
Honduras,  the  ravages  of  the  palm  weevil  seriously  discouraged  that 
industry.  In  the  year  1888  the  government  of  that  country,  becom- 
ing cognizant  that  the  losses  apparently  resulting  from  the  palm  weevil 
menaced  the  prosperhVy  of  the  colony,  appointed  an  investigating  com- 
mission, the  result  being  the  publication  of  the  article  above  cited. 
Until  the  injurious  occurrence  of  this  species  in  British  Honduras,  the 
palm  weevil  was  better  known  to  the  public  as  the  parent  of  the 
"gini-gru^  worm,  which  was  eaten  by  the  natives  of  Central  and 
South  America,  and  mentioned  by  most  writers  of  early  times  as 
"being  considered  a  delicacy."  On  this  head  Mile.  Merian,  in  her 
"  Dissertation  sur  la  Generation  et  les  Transformations  des  Insectes 
de  Surinam,"  etc.,  published  in  1726  (p.  48),  wrote  as  follows: 

The  Dutch  name  it  Palmy t- Worm,  that  is,  the  Worm  of  the  Palm,  because  it  feeds 
on  that  tree.  In  the  trunk  of  the  palm  tree,  swarm  certain  worms  feeding  on  the 
pith.  At  first  no  larger  than  cheese-maggots,  they  grow  like  the  one  here  repre- 
sented. Certain  folk  grill  them,  and  consider  them  a  most  savory  morsel.  From 
this  worm  comes  a  black  beetle,  such  as  I  have  depicted,  which  the  Indians  and 
the  Dutch  both  call  the  Mother  of  the  palm  worm. 

The  next  article  of  importance  bearing  upon  this  species  is  entitled 
'^Insects  infesting  the  Sugar-Cane."  It  was  written  by  Rev.  Lansdown 
Guilding,  and  published  in  1828  (Trans.  Soc.  Encour.  Arts,  LXVI). 


24 


Through  the  kindness  of  Prof.  M.  E.  Peck,  Iowa  Falls.  Iowa,  we 
have  received  some  information  relative  to  this  same  insect  and  its 
injuriousness  to  palms  in  British  Honduras.  Under  date  of  January 
L,  L902,  he  writes  that  during  several  months'  stay  there  he  became 
considerably  interested  in  the  cocoanut  industry,  and  especially  in  the 
methods  in  use  for  meeting  attacks  of  this  palm  weevil  and  other 
beetles  infesting  the  cocoanut.  Numerous  plantations  were  reported 
to  be  seriously  injured  or  wholly  ruined  by  these  insects,  which  are 
considered  the  chief  drawback  to  the  industry  in  that  region.  One 
grower,  Mr.  John  T.  Sea}',  of  Manatee  District,  British  Honduras, 
succeeded  to  some  extent  in  conquering  these  pests.  Mr.  Seay  had  a 
plantation  about  2<>  miles  south  of  Belize  and  extending  for  3  miles 
along  the  coast.  His  trees  were  in  flourishing  condition,  ranging  in 
age  from  two  or  three  to  fifteen  years.  Mr.  Peck  examined  the  larger 
part  of  the  adult  trees  and  found  that  nearly  half  of  those  with  trunks 
over  <)  feet  in  height  had  been  attacked  Iry  the  weevils,  but  had  been 
successfully  treated  and  the  insects  destroyed.  Mr.  Seay's  method  of 
treatment  was  described  as  so  easy  and  rapid  that  one  man  could  attend 
to  many  thousands  of  trees  at  very  slight  expense.  He  stated  that  if 
these  beetles  were  as  destructive  in  our  newly  acquired  tropical  terri- 
tory (according  to  present  accounts  they  are  not)  as  they  are  in  Cen- 
tral America,  it  would  certainly  be  worth  while  for  the  Department 
of  Agriculture  to  inquire  into  the  matter. 

Mr.  Seay  was  written  in  regard  to  his  experiences,  and  he  answered 
January  22,  and  later  in  1902,  giving  much  information  concerning 
this  and  other  insects  associated  with  injury  to  palms  cultivated  in 
British  Honduras.  His  acquaintance  with  this  weevil  dated  back 
about  thirty  years,  and  for  half  of  that  time  he  had  been  studying  its 
habits  in  order  to  be  able  to  use  his  knowledge  to  advantage  in  the 
application  of  remedies. 

ASSOCIATES  OF  THE  PALM  WEEVIL. 

The  associates  of  this  weevil,  specimens  of  which  accompanied  other 
material,  were  a  large  shining  black  Histerid  beetle  (Hololepta  quad- 
ridentata  Say),  a  large  dipterous  larva  or  maggot,  which  proved  on 
rearing  to  be  WUlistonidla  pleurqpunctata  Wied.,  also  Epiplatea  erosa 
Loew — both  the  young  of  Ortalid  flies— and  two  forms  of  mites  iden- 
tified  by  Mr.  N.  Banks  as  belonging  to  the  genera  Uropoda  and 
Holostaspis.  The  latter  mite  was  observed  singly,  in  the  material 
furnished  us,  on  both  the  weevil  and  the  Histerid,  sheltering  in  clus- 
ter- on  the  hairy  portions  of  the  under  surface  of  the  weevil  and  more 
especially  on  the  tibiae,  although  also  clustered  on  the  abdomen  and 
presternum.  There  is  no  doubt  that  these  mites  are  of  some  value  in 
destroying  the  weevils  in  their  different  stages,  more  particularly, 
perhaps,  when  in  the  pupal  stage,  if  they  have  opportunity  to  penetrate 


25 


the  pupal  cells.  Histerids  are.  as  a  rule,  predaceous,  at  least  in  the 
larval  stage,  and  these  may  also  do  some  good  by  destroying  the  eggs 
and  young  of  the  weevil  when  the  latter  are  first  hatched. 

Rhina  ftarbirostris  Fab. — June  19.  1902,  we  received  from  Mr. 
Seay.  through  Mr.  E.  J.  F.  Campbell,  superintendent  of  agriculture, 
botanic  station,  Belize.  Honduras,  specimens  of  this  large  weevil,  with 
the  expression  of  opinion  that,  first  of  all.  the  cocoanut  trees  were  in 
a  more  or  less  unhealthy  state  when  attacked  by  it  and  that  it  did  no 
harm  to  healthy  trees:  but.  to  attract  the  insect,  some  injury  must  in 
the  first  instance  happen  to  some  part  of  the  plant,  stem,  roots,  or 
leaf,  to  cause  a  now  and  subsequent  fermentation  of  sap. 

Tlit  Ambrosia  beetles  [Xyleborus  and  Monarthrum  spp.)  bore  into 
the  cracks  of  the  stem  of  the  injured  plants;  and  the  palm  weevil 
(Mhynchopkatmjpalmuruin  \  follows.  The  ambrosia  beetles  make  holes 
in  the  trunk  and  bore  straight  ahead,  the  size  of  the  holes  never  increas- 
ing, and  throw  out  sawdust,  which  the  weevil  does  not  usually  do.  The 
latter  makes  a  small  hole  and  inserts  an  egg  which  hatches  into  a  grub, 
and  the  grub  excavates  cavities  which  constantly  increase  in  size,  until 
finally  it  forms  its  cocoon. 

AS  TO  WHETHER  INSECTS  ATTACK   HEALTHY  OR  ONLY  SICKLY  TREES. 

The  belief  is  quite  prevalent  in  British  Honduras  that  the  palm 
weevil  is  the  chief  cause  of  the  great  damage  to  cocoanut  trees  in  that 
colony.  Mr.  Seay  is  of  the  opinion  that  the  ambrosia  beetles  are  more 
responsible  as  conveyers  of  disease  than  the  palm  weevil.  Mr.  Camp- 
bell states  that  the  disease  locally  known  as  •'fever/'  presumably  due 
to  the  fungus  Pestalozzia  jHdinarum,  or  a  similar  species,  is  the  sole 
forerunner  of  the  trouble.  He  supposes  it  to  be  conveyed  from 
unhealthy  trees  growing  in  unsuitable  ground.  On  this  head  he 
expresses  himself  substantially  as  follows: 

From  my  own  observation  I  am  of  the  opinion  that  cocoanut  trees  are  never 
attacked  by  weevils  unless  the  plant  is  more  or  less  in  a  sickly  condition — a  fever  of 
some  kind.  This  fever  may  originate  from  different  circumstances,  such  as  sudden 
cold  weather,  excessive  wet,  causing  water  to  lie  around  and  affect  the  roots,  the 
want  of  good  drainage,  inferior  soil,  sudden  exposure  of  the  stem  to  the  direct  rays 
of  the  sun,  or  other  conditions  due  to  planters  neglecting  to  clean  their  trees  for 
months  or  years.    *    *  * 

He  is  convinced  that  "no  fly.  bug.  or  weevil"  will  attack  a  perfectly 
healthy  cocoanut  tree  that  receives  proper  attention  by  its  owner. 

THE   PALMETTO  WEEVIL. 

(Mkynchbphorui  cruentatus  Fab.) 

September  10,  1901,  we  received  specimens  of  this  species  in  the 
grub  state  from  Mr.  Lee  Mulford,  Fort  Ogden.  Fla..  that  had  been 
taken  from  a  10-year-old  seedling  date.    The  entire  trunk  was  found 


26 


to  be  honeycombed,  and  fifty  or  more  of  the  grubs  were  observed. 
They  were  stated  to  be  quite  active  and  capable  of  traveling  some  little 
distance,  and  to  be  noisy  when  at  work,  making  a  sound  like  the 
escape  of  water  with  an  occasional  screech  like  a  choked  hen. 

April  4,  L902,  Mr.  AY.  F.  Fiske,  Atlanta,  Ga.,  sent  fragments  of 
this  beetle,  taken  from  its  coeoon  in  the  trunk  of  Sabal  palmetto, 
the  tree  having  died  and  the  crown  fallen.  Other  trees  in  the 
neighborhood  were  killed  and  some  showed  evidence  of  attack. 


The  beetle. — The  general  appearance  of  the  beetle  is  shown  in  figure  1,  at  a.  The 
thorax,  and  frequently  the  elytra,  are  usually  more  or  less  reddish;  sometimes  both 
are  decidedly  red,  marked  with  black  spots  which  form  a  pattern  more  or  less  like 
that  depicted.  The  under  surface  is  also  partly  red  and  partly  black,  but  frequently 
specimens  are  met  with  which  are  entirely  black,  some  decidedly  polished,  and 


Fig.  1.— Palmetto  weevil  {Rhynehophorus  crnentatu.<):  a,  male  beetle;  b,  head  and  appendages  of 
female  from  side;  e,  larva;  d,  head  of  same;  e,  last  ventral  segment  seen  from  above;  /,  pupa — 
a,  e,f,  slightly  enlarged;  b,  d,  e,  more  enlarged  (original). 

others  dull  and  velvety.  The  body  above  is  depressed  and,  as  with  other  weevils, 
the  head  is  prolonged  into  a  snout,  which  is  comparatively  short  and  very  rough  in 
the  male,  while  in  the  female  it  is  longer  and  more  slender  and  almost  perfectly 
smooth  along  the  upper  surface.  (Compare  a  and  b,  fig.  1,  the  latter  a  side  view  of 
the  female  head  with  snout  and  antenna. )  The  antenna'  are  geniculate  or  elbowed, 
as  in  most  curculios  of  this  group,  and  the  last  joint  is  strongly  expanded.  The 
elytra,  or  wing-covers,  are  deeply  striate  or  furrowed,  as  shown  in  the  figure.  The 
legs  are  fringed  on  the  inner  surface  with  long  reddish-yellow  hairs,  and  the  tip  of 
the  tibia  bears  a  long  apical  spur  and  two  shorter  teeth.  The  length,  exclusive  of 
the  snout,  measures  from  eight-tenths  of  an  inch  to  upward  of  an  inch  and  an 
eighth.  A  technical  description  is  furnished  on.  page  408  of  Dr.  Horn's  paper  enti- 
tled "Contributions  to  a  knowledge  of  the  Curculionida^  of  the  United  States." 
(Proceedings  American  Philosophical  Society,  1873.) 

sThe  larva  is  shown  in  figure  1,  at  c.  It  very  closely  resembles  that  of  B.  palmarum, 
which  is  figured  in  both  the  articles  of  Messrs.  Guilding  and  Blandford.  It  is  of 
robust  form  and  somewhat  different  from  any  other  rhynchophorous  larva  that  has 


DESCRIPTIVE. 


/ 


27 


ever  been  under  observation  by  the  writer.  Its  color  is  rather  pale  yellowish-brown, 
with  exceptions  of  the  first  thoracic  segment,  which  is  chitinous,  and  the  head,  which 
is  dark  brown.  The  latter  is  illustrated  at  c  (fig.  1).  A  large  proportion  of  the  head 
is  divided  into  irregular  reticulated  areas,  giving  the  appearance  of  very  large  eyes. 
As  will  be  seen  in  the  illustration,  the  segments  are  quite  distinct,  and  there  are 
9  spiracles,  including  8  abdominal  ones.  The  length,  when  in  somewhat  retracted 
position,  is  about  H  inches.  In  many  respects  this  species  resembles  that  of 
R.  pcUmarum;  hence  a  detailed  description  is  scarcely  necessary,  as  nearly  two  pages 
have  been  devoted  to  the  description  of  that  species  in  Blandford's  article  pre- 
viously quoted.  It  should  be  stated,  however,  that  Horn,  quoting  LeConte  as 
authority,  says  that  these  stigmata  are  completely  absent,  because  neither  of  these 
specialists  had  an  opportunity  of  observing  fresh  alcoholic  specimens,  and  drew 
their  deductions  from  "a  carefully  prepared  skin." 

Tfte  pupa  (fig.  1,/),  in  specimens  which  the  writer  has  had  under  observation,  is  of 
a  similar  color  to  the  larva,  and  is  noticeably  larger  than  the  beetle,  a  rather  unusual 
matter  with  pupa?,  but  readily  accounted  for  because  the  pupa  is  necessarily  rather 
delicate,  while  the  beetle  is  decidedly  hard  like  all  of  its  kind  and  quite  compact. 
The  length  of  four  pupse  before  the  writer  afford  an  average  of  If  inches.  This 
species  appears  to  be  most  abundant  in  Florida,  but  is  recorded  as  occurring  from 
South  Carolina  to  Louisiana. 

REMEDIAL  TREATMENT. 

Owing  to  the  somewhat  peculiar  habits  of  these  weevils  and  their 
resistance  to  poison,  we  can  not  treat  them  by  any  single  method,  but 
must  employ  several,  both  cultural  and  mechanical.  Perhaps  one  of 
the  best  preventives  that  has  been  suggested  consists  in  cutting 
down  or  wounding  several  young  trees  or  wild  species  of  palm  or 
palmetto  which  may  be  found  growing  in  the  vicinity  of  the  date  or 
cocoanut  trees  to  be  protected.  The  sap  which  exudes  from  the  dead 
or  wounded  trees  ferments  and  acts  as  a  strong  attraction  to.  the 
beetles.  Frequently  a  multitude  are  thus  attracted  and  can  be  cap- 
tured without  trouble  and  killed  before  they  have  had  time  to  oviposit. 
The  trunks  of  felled  trees  soon  become  rilled  with  larva?,  and  infected 
portions  should  be  sawed  off  and  burned  before  the  insects  mature, 
leaving  the  remainder  of  these  trunks  to  act  as  traps  for  other  insects. 
It  is  also  recommended  that  care  be  taken  in  the  choice  of  sites  for 
new  plantations,  undue  proximity  to  what  is  known  as  a  "  cohoon  "  ridge 
being  avoided,  and  that  all  stumps  and  felled  trees  not  used  as  traps 
be  promptly  destroyed.  Thorough  drainage  and  wide  planting  are 
also  advised.  The  trees  should  be  left  as  far  as  possible  in  a  natural 
state  and  unnecessary  trimming  should  be  avoided.  Wounds  might 
be  dressed  with  any  mixture  that  would  deter  the  beetle  from  attack- 
ing them  and  prevent  fermentation,  such  as  tar  or  grafting  wax. 

The  beetles  can  easily  be  killed  by  dropping  them  into  hot  water. 

Some  of  the  remedies  above  described  were  first  suggested  by  Mr. 
Blandford  (loc.  cit.)  and  others  by  this  Division. 

Mr.  Seav  is  most  successful  in  the  treatment  of  the  palm  weevil  by 
the  use  of  traps,  which  have  been  in  use  for  many  years  by  himself 


28 


and  others,  both  against  this  species  and  related  ones.  The  traps  he 
uses  are  mostly  what  is  termed  the  cabbage  portion  of  the  palm,  while 
it  is  fermenting.  When  fresh  cut,  the  "cabbage"  will  attract  the 
weevils  somewhat,  but  when  it  reaches  the  vinous  stage  it  emits  a 
powerful  odor,  which  the  insects  can  detect  from  a  great  distance. 
They  soar  about  for  a  while,  then  alight  and  proceed  to  work.  After 
feeding  for  some  time,  they  look  about  in  search  of  a  ■'nice  heap  of 
rubbish  to  hide  and  sleep  in,  but  if  no  suitable  place  is  close,  they  fty 
away.  The  idea  of  a  handful  or  two  of  rubbish  catching  them  took 
me  live  years  to  find  out,r  says  Mr.  Seay.  kept  trying  everything 
I  could  think  of  to  hold  them,  but  as  soon  as  the  vinegar  fermentation 
sets  in,  the  weevils  stop  coming  and  the  yellow  bugs  [ambrosia  bee- 
tles] come;  also  several  kinds  of  flies. "  When  the  putrid  stage  arrives, 
Mr.  Seay  destroys  his  traps.  The  " salt- water  pimento "  is  the  palm 
most  used,  and  one  or  two  cuts  of  a  machete  an  inch  or  an  inch  and  a 
half  above  the  "cabbage''  takes  off  the  top,  and  with  the  point  of  the 
machete  a  hole  is  opened  into  the  "cabbage,''  breaking  it  a  little. 
Then  the  trap  is  set.  The  odor  arising  from  these  bruises  attracts 
the  insects  in  the  vicinity,  and  the  weevils  enter  the  holes  and  also 
stow  themselves  in  the  leaf-stalks.  In  the  afternoon  of  the  following 
day  until  2  or  3  o'clock  our  correspondent  states  that  he  frequently 
obtains  half  a  dozen  or  more  in  such  a  trap.  The  trap  lasts  a  week 
or  two.  When  the  trap  has  been  thus  used,  it  is  cut  off  below  the 
"cabbage,"  and  the  scraps  are  burned  or  thrown  into  the  sea. 

There  seems  little  doubt  that  all  of  the  flying  species  of  insects — 
the  weevil,  the  Histerid,  and  the  two-winged  flies — whose  larva?  w  ere 
received  are  instrumental  in  spreading  the  disease  or  so-called  fever 
which  attacks  palms  grown  both  in  British  Honduras  and  in  the  West 
Indies.  Mr.  Seay  is  unfortunate  in  having  neighbors  who  also  grow 
palms  and  who  do  not  take  the  pains  to  employ  remedies  against  the 
weevils.  He  states  that  3  or  i  miles  is  no  distance  for  the  insects  to 
fly  in  search  of  a  sickly  tree  or  one  that  is  beginning'  to  bear  fruit, 
because  then  the  bark  is  soft  and  the  sun  will  make  cracks  and  the 
sap,  which  is  liked  by  all  of  these  pests,  oozes  out  in  quantities. 

NOTES  ON  THE  RHINOCEROS  BEETLE. 

(Dynastes  tityus  Linn.) 
By  F.  H.  Chittenden. 

Few  insects  attract  greater  attention  when  they  occur  in  any  num- 
bers than  the  giant  Scarabseid  known  as  the  rhinoceros  beetle.  Dynastes 
tityus  Linn.,  sometimes  called  the  spotted  hornbug.  In  former  years 
it  w  as  tolerably  abundant  in  the  vicinity  of  the  District  of  Columbia, 
and  is  still  to  be  found  quite  frequently  in  neighboring  portions  of 


Plate  II. 


Fig.  \.—a.  Larva  (natural  size):  b,  c,  mandibles  of  larva  (enlarged) 


Fig.  2.— Pupa:  a,  lateral  view,  b,  dorsal  view— natural  size 


Rhinoceros  Beetle  (Dynastes  tityus). 


29 


Virginia,  and  more  commonly  southward.  It  was  not  until  the  year 
1801  that  any  considerable  information  regarding  the  insect's  earlier 
stages  was  published.  In  that  year  Dr.  J.  A.  Lintner  published  in  his 
Seventh  Report  on  the  Injurious  and  Other  Insects  of  the  State  of 
New  York  an  extensive  account  (pp.  2I0-255),  which  included  detailed 
descriptions  of  the  larva  and  papa  by  Mr.  E.  A.  Schwarz.  of  this 
Division,  with  figures  prepared  in  this  office  under  the  direction  of 
the1  late  Dr.  Riley.  These  illustrations,  not  hitherto  used  in  depart- 
mental publications,  are  now  used  as  an  accompaniment  to  the  present 
notes,  which  add  somewhat  to  our  knowledge  of  the  life  history  of  this 
our  largest  and  most  striking  native  beetle. 

Recently  Dr.  A.  K.  Fisher,  of  the  Biological  Survey  of  this  Depart- 
ment, furnished  the  writer  with  a  pair  of  this  species  from  Sandy 
Spring,  Md.,  and  from  these  July  16  we  obtained  the  egg  and  later 
the  young  larva.  As  this  stage  has  not  hitherto  been  described,  the 
following  description  is  submitted  with  other  notes: 

DESCRIPTION  OF  THE  EGG  AND  YOUNG  LARVA. 

The  egg  of  Dynastes  tUr/'/s  looks  precisely  like  a  very  small  bird's 
egg/'  In  outline  it  is  broadly  oval  and  perfectly  symmetrical,  of  firm 
consistency,  and  quite  elastic.  It  is  of  a  dull  cream  color  and  without 
polish  or  visible  sculpture.  The  length  of  a  freshly  deposited  egg  is 
a  little  more  than  i  inch  (3.5ram).  and  the  shorter  diameter  3mm. 

The  newly  hatched  larva  is  nearly  a  counterpart  of  that  of  Lach- 
nosterna  and  related  white  grubs,  being  about  double  the  size  and  width 
of  that  of  Lachnostema  arcuate,  which  was  figured  and  described  by  the 
writer  on  pages  71  and  70.  respectively,  of  Bulletin  19  (n.  s.).  of  this 
office.  These  differences,  however,  are  observable:  The  head  is  larger, 
more  globular,  darker  brown  in  color,  and  of  lirmer  consistency,  being- 
more  strongly  chitinized  than  that  of  Lachnosterna:  the  mandibles  are 
proportionately  shorter  and  less  sickle-like,  and  the  teeth  are  nearly 
the  same  on  both  sides,  the  single  tooth  being  placed  nearer  the  tip  of 
the  mandibles.  [In  Lachnostema  fusca  there  are  two  teeth  on  the  left 
side,  near  the  base  of  the  mandibles,  and  only  one  tooth  on  the  right 
side.]    The  legs  are  proportionately  shorter  and  the  pubescence  longer. 

DESCRIPTIONS  OF  EATER  STAGES. 

For  the  benefit  of  those  who  have  not  seen  this  species,  the  accom- 
panying illustration  of  the  male  is  furnished,  slightly  enlarged,  in  fig- 
ure 2.  It  measures  from  2^  to  2h  inches  from  the  tip  of  the  horns 
to  the  end  of  the  body.  The  female  is  similar,  but  is  unarmed  with 
horns.    The  general  color  above  is  a  pale  bluish  gray  in  life,  and  the 

a  It  should  be  noted  here  that  the  egg  of  a  large  African  Buprestid,  Stemocera  ori&sa, 
has  been  found  by  Dr.  Howard  to  measure  9.2x6.4mm  (Ent  News,  Vol.  VII,  p.  244). 


30 


elytra,  or  wing-covers,  are  marked  with  darker  irregular  spots  similar 
to  those  on  many  kinds  of  birds'  eggs.  The  ventral  surface  is  a 
bright  mahogany  brown,  and  moderately  hairy.. 

The  larva,  shown  in  Plate  II,  figure  1,  at  a,  in  natural  position,  is  of 
the  usual  curved  Scarabaiid  form,  dirty  yellow  or  yellowish  white  in 
color,  measuring  when  mature  upward  of  5  inches  in  length  when 
extended.  Enlarged  illustrations  of  the  mandibles  are  shown  at  1>  and 
c  of  the  same  figure. 

The  pupa  is  light  brown  in  color  and  covered  with  a  very  tine 
velvety  pruinosity.  The  male  is  illustrated  in  Plate  II,  figure  2,  a 
showing  a  lateral  view  and  h  the  dorsal,  natural  size. 

The  peculiar  odor  of  the  beetle  is  shared  by  larvae  and  pupae  and 
lasts  long  after  death,  preserved  specimens  seeming  never  to  lose  this 
strange  scent,  which  also  remains  for  years  in  the  insect  boxes  in 

which  the  beetles  have  once 
been  kept. 

In  the  reports  of  Dr.  Lintner 
rather  full  bibliographical  ref- 
erences can  be  found. 

DISTRIBUTION. 

The  exact  distribution  of  this 
species  has  never  been  defined, 
hence  the  following  list  of  lo- 
calities from  which  specimens 
have  been  sent  by  correspond- 
ents of  this  Department  together 
with  some  recorded  localities 
should  be  of  interest,  this  bee- 
tle being  so  well  known  to 
collectors  of  insects: 

Fig.  2.— Rhinoceros  beetle  (Dynastes  tityus):  male— 

slightly  enlarged  (after  Riley  i.  York  County,  Marietta,  Lancaster, 

Wrightsville,  Pa. ;  Cape  May,  Wild- 
wood,  N.  J.  (Smith);  Baltimore,  Hughesville,  Sandy  Spring,  Centerville,  Md.;  Wash- 
ington, D.  C. ;  Amherst,  Sewells  Point,  Bonney,  Perrowville,  Gills,  Friedens,  Coffee, 
Culpeper,  Warren  County,  Va.;  Wilkesboro,  Raleigh,  Happy  Home,  Fayetteville, 
Hooverhill,  Greensboro,  Asheville,  Laurelbranch,  N.  C;  Coozan,  Coronaca,  Beau- 
fort, AVinnsboro,  Pomaria,  S.  C;  Molino,  Liveoak,  New  Smyrna,  Archer,  Fla.; 
Smithville,  Pearson,  Albany,  Ga.;  Florence,  South  Calera,  Birmingham,  Mobile, 
Selma,  Ala. ;  New  Orleans,  Cypress,  Gansville,  La. ;  Covington,  Memphis,  Claiborne 
County,  Tenn. ;  Ojo  Caliente,  Grafton,  N.  Mex.;  Louisville,  Scottsville,  Ky.;  Hackett 
City,  Ark.;  Paoli,  Columbus,  Ind.;  Missouri. 

x  BIOLOGIC  NOTES. 

The  date  of  deposition  of  the  egg  was  not  ascertained,  but  was  about 
July  18,  or  a  few  days  before.    When  examined  a  week  later  it  was 


31 


found  to  have  grown  half  a  millimeter  in  diameter  by  a  process  of 
absorption  well  known  in  eggs  of  the  beetles  of  this  family. 

The  exact  duration  of  the  egg  stage  could  not  be  observed,  but  it 
was  at  least  sixteen  days  and  probably  longer,  the  weather  for  this 
period  being  a  little  warmer  than  normal. 

Several  years  ago  the  writer  received  from  the  late  George  D. 
Bradford,  at  that  time  traveling  irKthe  South,  a  number  of  larvae  of 
this  species  collected  in  the  spring  at  Beaufort,  S.  C,  from  which 
material  some  interesting  observations  were  made. 

For  several  weeks  after  the  receipt  of  these  larvae  they  did  not 
manifest  any  signs  of  feeding,  but  later  in  July  and  August  they  ate 
freely  of  the  mold  or  dead  woody  matter  in  which  they  were  sent. 
There  was  originally  over  a  gallon  jar  full  of  this  mold,  and  as  that 
in  the  jar  was  consumed,  the  remainder,  perhaps  a  quart,  was  added. 
Three  larvae  were  kept  in  this,  and  almost  the  entire  contents  had 
become  consumed  and  converted  into  pellets,  resembling  on  a  small 
scale  those  of  a  goat  or  rabbit,  when  the  larvae  became  full  fed. 
They  ceased  feeding  during  the  third  week  of  August  and  remained 
for  a  few  days  as  if  resting,  then  went  to  work  to  form  cells  for  the 
pupal  transformation.  When  larvae  are  disturbed  the\T  roll  over  and 
over,  like  the  larvae  of  many  other  Coleoptera  and  some  other  orders 
of  insects,  and  the  same  motion  was  continued  by  the  pupa.  By  this 
motion,  in  time,  the  interior  of  the  pupal  cell  is  rolled  quite  smooth. 

August  27  the  skin  was  noticed  to  be  shriveled,  and  on  the  folio  wing- 
day  this  increased.  On  the  29th  all  three  pupated.  One  was  still 
white  toward  evening,  the  other  brown.  Transformation  to  the  imago 
occurred  on  the  20th  of  October,  all  undergoing  this  metamorphosis 
the  same  day.  This  gives  a  pupal  period  of  fifty-one  days,  probably 
the  longest  warm  weather  pupal  period  of  any  of  our  Coleoptera. 

The  pupal  cells  were  coated  externally  with  excremental  pellets  and 
bits  of  rotten  wood,  and  showed  an  average  measurement  of  from  2 
to  3  inches  in  length  and  1^  to  1J  inches  in  width. 

Hibernation  takes  place  normally  in  the  beetle  state,  and  the  beetles 
obtained  in  this  instance  were  kept  until  some  time  in  July  of  the 
following  year,  when  they  died  during  the  writer's  absence. 

The  rhinoceros  beetle  seldom  occurs  in  such  abundance  as  to  be 
reckoned  a  pest.  According  to  Dr.  Lintner,  however,  the  beetles  are 
sometimes  capable  of  injuries  of  considerable  importance.  He  states 
(Fifth  New  York  Report,  p.  230),  on  the  authority  of  Mr.  J.  W.  Mur- 
rell,  Perrowville,  Ya.,  that  numbers  of  the  beetles  were  observed 
feeding  on  the  tender  shoots  of  spring  growth  of  ash  trees,  causing 
the  leaves  to  fall  and  cover  the  ground  as  if  a  frost  had  passed  over 
them.  Their  food  consists  largely  of  sap.  which  flows  from  the  plants 
attacked.    Beetles  may  be  attracted  by  bruising  ash  twigs. 

The  beetles  are  sometimes  troublesome  on  account  of  their  strong 
and  disagreeable  odor. 


32 


Ash.  although  evidently  the  favorite,  is  not  the  only  food  plant  of 
this  species,  The  larvae  are  probably  not  particular,  as  they  live  upon 
decaying  wood  and  have  been  found  feeding  in  decayed  wood  of  cherry, 
willow,  oak.  and  other  trees. 

During  June,  1898,  we  received  a  specimen  of  this  species  from 
Mr.  W.  W.  Thompson,  Smithville,  Ga.,  with  the  statement  that  it  had 
been  found  eating  a  pear,  an  unusual  food  habit,  judging  from  records. 

In  writing  of  the  noise  produced  by  this  species  when  alarmed,  the 
late  Dr.  John  Hamilton  says  (Can.  Ent.,  Vol.  XVIII,  p.  112): 

"While  no  real  stridulating  organs  are  present,  they  have  the  power  to  produce  a 
sound  that  may  answer  the  same  purpose,  somewhat  resembling  that  of  an  angry 
goose.  The  pygidium  and  part  of  the  last  ventral  segment  are  very  hairy,  and  by 
withdrawing  the  abdomen  from  the  elytra  so  as  to  admit  air,  and  then  suddenly 
forcing  it  out  through  the  hair  by  a  sudden  extension,  a  noise  is  produced  that  is 
rather  alarming  to  one  unacquainted  with  their  harmlessness. 

NOTES  ON  ENEMIES   OF  MUSHROOMS  AND  ON  EXPERIMENTS 

WITH  REMEDIES. 

By  August  Busck. 

During  the  winter  1901-2  four  enemies  of  mushroom  culture  came 
under  observation:  (1)  snails,  (2)  roaches,  (3)  maggots  of  some  unde- 
termined Diptera  (not  bred),  and  (4)  mites. 

(1)  Against  the  snails  was  used  with  perfect  success  the  old  remedy 
of  trapping  them  under  loose  boards. 

(2)  The  roaches  {Periplaneta  americana)  were  quite  troublesome,  but 
were  at  least  temporarily  driven  away  by  the  pyrethrum  and  bisulphid 
of  carbon  experiments,  employed  against  the  mites  and  mentioned 
below. 

(3)  The  maggots,  which  in  the  cases  under  observation  were  scarce 
and  of  small  importance,  were  not  bred.  They  worked  in  the  fruit 
bodies  of  the  mushroom  and  of  course  spoiled  such  individual  mush- 
rooms as  were  infested.  Possibly  the  experiments  with  all  kinds  of 
insecticides,  conducted  against  the  mites,  killed  the  majority  of  adult 
flies,  and  thus  prevented  egg  laying  and  consequent  injury. 

Reports  from  other  places  show  that  certain  flies  (Phora  spp.  and 
DrosopMla  spp.)  may  be  very  dangerous  enemies  of  successful  mush- 
room culture. 

The  present  experiments  tend  to  show  that  the  screening  of  all  win- 
dows or  beds,  where  feasible,  and  the  liberal  use  of  pyrethrum,  are 
effective  preventives  against  these  pests. 

(4)  The  only  truly  important  and  at  the  same  time  the  most  perni- 
cious and  difficult  enemy  to  handle  which  has  come  under  my  obser- 
vation hitherto  is  the  very  prolific  and  astonishingly  destructive  mite, 
Tyroglyjjhus  lintneri. 


33 


It  attacks  the  fruit  bodies  in  all  stages,  thereby  making  these 
unsightly  and  unsalable.  When  present  in  large  numbers  it  actually 
eats  big  holes  right  through  them.  It  not  only  attacks  the  fruit  bodies, 
but  even  feeds  on  the  mycelium  underground,  thus  destroying  the  plant 
entirely. 

Many  cases  where  beds  have  not  yielded  at  all,  and  where  the  blame 
has  been  credited  to  "old  and  dead"  spawn,  are  doubtless  truly  the 
results  of  this  pest,  which  being  so  small  has  escaped  notice. 

In  two  or  three  cases  where  the  failure  of  a  bed  was  attributed  to 
poor  spawn,  it  was  found  on  investigation  that  the  "brick"  had  been 
all  right  and  had  begun  sending  out  mycelium  under  favorable  condi- 
tions, but  that  myriads  of  these  mites  in  the  ground  actually  consumed 
it  as  fast  as  it  grew.  In  some  beds  they  were  so  numerous  that  they 
covered  the  surface  entirely,  and  any  such  bed  might  as  well  be  given 
up  at  once,  and  the  danger  to  surrounding  beds  somewhat  minimized 
by  the  killing  of  all  the  mites.  This  may  be  done  by  pouring  boiling 
water  on  the  bed,  using  enough  to  reach  the  bottom  and  soak  the  bed 
thoroughly. 

The  following  remedies  were  thoroughly  experimented  with  and 
none  proved  of  much  value: 

(A)  Bisulphid  of  carbon. — Some  twenty-odd  beds,  3  by  6  feet,  and 
two  beds,  5  by  10  feet,  were  under  observation  in  two  different  places. 
These  beds  were  originally  prepared  with  these  experiments  in  view, 
and  the  boxes  were  made  \\  to  2  inches  higher  than  is  usually  necessary, 
so  as  to  leave  that  much  space  above  the  ground.  In  other  respects 
the  beds  were  prepared  in  the  usual  manner,  the  spawn  was  put  in, 
and  in  due  time  mycelium  developed  and  mushrooms  appeared. 

As  soon  as  the  mites  put  in  their  appearance  (they  were  probably 
brought  in  the  adolescent  stage  with  the  manure)  the  bisulphid  of 
carbon  was  applied.  From  one-fourth  of  a  pound  to  1  pound  was 
poured  into  each  of  three  or  four  shallow  receptacles  placed  on  top  of 
the  bed,  and  the  whole  was  then  tightly  covered  with  heavy  oilcloth. 

This  was  done  in  the  evening  and  the  bed  left  overnight  till  the 
next  noon,  when  the  soil  was  examined. 

It  is  possible  that  some  of  the  mites  had  perished  from  the  effect  of 
the  poison.  Several  were  found  dead  or  dying,  but  many  more  speci- 
mens crawled  upon  and  in  the  soil  as  lively  as  ever  and  apparently  not 
the  least  harmed. 

The  treatment  was  repeated  next  night  on  some  of  the  beds,  and  for 
several  nights  on  other  beds,  but  with  the  same  very  doubtful  success. 

A  number  of  living  mites  were  placed  in  a  vial  on  a  bit  of  mush- 
room and  the  vial  closed  with  cotton  saturated  with  bisulphid  of  car- 
bon. After  two  days  several  mites  were  still  alive,  and  the  cause  of 
the  death  of  the  others  may  as  well  have  been  lack  of  moisture  or 
injury  in  handling  them  as  the  bisulphid  of  carbon. 
3622— No.  38—04  3 


34 


One  thing  was  ascertained  through  these  experiments,  namely,  that 
the  mushroom  mycelium  is  not  injured  by  the  treatment  with  vapors 
of  bisulphid  of  carbon;  in  fact,  the  growth  seemed  rather  stimulated 
if  affected  at  all,  and  such  beds,  when  not  ultimately  killed  by  the 
mites,  produced  as  good  a  crop  as  those  not  treated.  The  fruit  bodies 
above  ground,  however,  can  not  stand  the  treatment,  but  disinte- 
grate very  soon,  for  which  reason  all  should  be  plucked  before  the 
application. 

(B)  Pulverized  sulphur  was  applied  liberally  with  a  blower,  and 
mixed  with  about  1  inch  of  the  top  soil  by  means  of  a  rake.  Aside 
from  such  mites  as  were  injured  in  the  handling,  and  such  as  were 
actually  buried  in  the  sulphur,  from  which  the}^  had  difficulty  in  extri- 
cating themselves,  none  seemed  in  the  least  affected. 

(C)  Vapors  of  sulphur. — The  burning  of  chips  of  sulphur  in  proper 
receptacles  on  top  of  the  beds  did  not  have  any  apparent  effect  on  the 
mites. 

(D)  Pyrethrum  powder  applied  liberally  with  bellows  had  no  serious 
effect  on  the  mites,  though  they  evidently  did  not  like  it.  It  did  not 
seem  to  act  even  as  a  deterrent  in  such  beds  as  were  little  or  not  at  all 
infested.  However,  the  undoubted  beneficial  results  against  roaches 
and  flies,  which  might  otherwise  have  become  serious  factors,  would 
warrant  the  use  of  this  insecticide  freely  in  all  mushroom  beds  as  a 
good  precaution.' 

(E)  Hydrocyanic-acid  gas. — Conditions  did  not  allow  a  thorough  test 
of  this,  but  1  have  no  doubt,  from  what  was  done,  that  it  is  as  ineffect- 
ive against  the  mites  as  bisulphid  of  carbon.  One  large  bed  in  a 
cellar  by  itself  was  left  from  Saturday  4  o'clock  to  Sunday  4  o'clock, 
exposed  to  the  fumes  of  hydrocyanic  acid,  produced  in  the  usual  way. 
When  the  windows  were  pulled  open  on  Sunday  strong  fumes  were 
still  found. 

No  living  mites  were  noticed  at  the  inspection  on  top  of  the  bed, 
but  digging  into  the  bed  the  following  day  revealed  them  apparently 
as  well  as  ever.  Concerning  the  influence  of  these  vapors  on  the 
growing  mycelium  this  experiment  gave  no  information,  as  the 
mycelium  in  this  bed  was  already  dead  when  exposed  to  the  gas. 

(F)  Tobacco  dust  was  tried  in  a  single  bed,  and  gave  the  same  nega- 
tive result  as  sulphur,  acting  at  most  only  as  somewhat  deterring  but 
not  killing  the  mites. 

(G)  Chloride  of  lime  and  gasoline. — Neither  was  given  sufficient 
trial  to  warrant  final  conclusions.  The  former  killed  the  mites  which 
came  in  contact  with  it,  but  two  beds  on  which  it  was  applied  did  not 
produce  an}^  mushrooms  either.  The  gasoline  did  not  seem  to  have 
Bny  fatal  results  either  to  mites  or  mushrooms. 

(If)  Moisture. — A  mushroom  bed  does  not  allow  much  variation  in 
moisture  if  good  results  are  to  come.    However,  it  was  soon  observed 


35 


that  the  mites  easily  got  too  much  moisture,  and  in  this  direction 
observations  should  be  continued  to  find  out  whether  it  be  possible  to 
find  a  degree  of  moisture  which  will  either  kill  or  drive  away  the 
mites  without  being  detrimental  to  the  growth  of  the  mycelium. 

NOTES  ON  COLORADO  INSECTS. 

By  A.  N.  Caudell. 

Acting  under  authorization  from  the  Department  of  Agriculture,  I 
arrived  at  Denver,  Colo.,  May  5, 1901,  where  I  was  joined  by  Dr.  H.  G. 
Dyar.  With  Denver  as  headquarters,  daily  excursions  were  made 
into  the  canyons  and  foothills  of  the  mountains,  and  the  life  histories 
of  many  western  Lepidoptera  were  worked  out,  notes  being  taken  on 
more  than  200  species.  In  the  months  of  J uly  and  August  trips  were 
made  across  the  divide  to  various  localities,  adding  materially  to  our 
collections.  According  to  instructions,  I  ' 4  collected  such  economic 
and  other  insects  as  came  convenient  and  made  observations  on  eco- 
nomic species  whenever  possible. "  My  first  duty  of  assisting  Dr.  Dyar 
in  working  out  lepidopterous  life  histories  prohibited  my  making 
large  collections  in  other  orders.  Some  5,000  specimens  of  Orthop- 
tera,  however,  were  collected,  together  with  some  hundreds  of  miscel- 
laneous insects,  mostly  Coleoptera,  of  which  a  few  were  reared.  Such 
observations  on  economic  insects  as  I  was  able  to  make  are  here 
reported. 

The  minute  false  chinch  bug  {Nysius  minutus  Uhl.). — At  Delta 
occurred  an  extreme  case  of  injury  to  radish  by  this  insect.  The 
leaves  were  completely  killed  to  the  ground,  and  the  shriveled  remains 
were  still  covered  by  many  hundreds  of  the  little  pests.  Mr.  O. 
Heidemann  identified  the  species. 

The  beet  army  worm  (Zaphygma  exigua  Hbn.). — This  has  become  an 
important  enemy  of  the  sugar-beet  industry  in  the  West.  Specimens 
of  the  larva  in  all  stages  were  taken  on  sugar  beets  at  Palisades  in 
Mesa  County,  and  at  Delta.  At  the  latter  place  they  were  taken  also 
on  the  table  beet,  though  they  did  not  occur  in  injurious  numbers. 
This  insect  is  reported  as  having  caused  great  injury  to  sugar  beets 
in  Colorado,  defoliating  thousands  of  acres  of  beets.  It  is  also  said 
to  be  injurious  to  potato,  pea,  and  apple  leaves.  Professor  Gillette, 
of  the  Colorado  experiment  station,  has  employed  arsenical  sprays 
against  it  with  beneficial  results.  Professor  Forbes  concludes  from 
data  furnished  b}T  Professor  Gillette  that  there  may  be  expected  at 
least  two  broods  of  larvae  each  year — one  in  June  and  one  in  August. 
But  the  broods  doubtless  merge  one  into  the  other,  as  larvae  in  all 
stages  were  taken  at  Palisades  on  July  8. 

The  bean  ladybird  (EpilacJma  corrtvpta  Muls.). — An  extreme  case 


86 


of  injury  by  this  spotted  bean  beetle  was  observed  near  Fort  Collins, 
where  a  large  patch  of  beans  had  nearly  every  leaf  killed  by  the 
larvae  of  this  insect.  At  that  time,  in  July,  the  beetles  were  in  the 
pupal  state,  hanging  in  great  numbers  on  the  underside  of  the  leaves. 
Professor  Gillette  stated  that  no  effective  remedy  for  them  was 
known,  the  insect  being  able  to  withstand  anything  that  did  not 
injure  the  plants.  The  adult  beetles  are  said  to  exude  a  tiny  drop  of 
3Tellow  liquid  of  a  pungent  odor  from  each  knee  joint  when  disturbed. 
The  insect  is  discussed  by  Professor  Gillette  in  Bulletin  19  of  the 
Colorado  Experiment  Station. 

The  nj>j>1<  flea-beetle  {Haltica  bimargmata  111.). — July  10  a  collecting 
trip  was  made  up  Platte  Canyon.  At  Pine  Grove,  some  miles  up  the 
canyon,  the  alders  along  the  river  were  found  to  be  infested  by  beetle 
larvae  which  ate  the  upper  side  of  the  leaves,  in  some  cases  complete^ 
skeletonizing  them.  An  attempt  was  made  to  rear  the  adult  beetle, 
but  other  duties  interfered  and  it  was  not  successful.  A  number  of 
the  larvae  were  collected,  however,  and  Mr.  Schwarz  identities  them  as 
those  of  Haltica  bimarginata. 

The  tent  caterpillar  {CI  isiocampa  fragilis  Stretch). — On  July  20  the 
ascent  of  Pike's  Peak  was  made,  and  here  occurred  the  worst  case  of 
forest  depredation  by  insect  foes  that  ever  came  under  my  observation. 
The  aspens  were  completely  defoliated  by  the  larvae  of  Clisioca mpa 
fragilis.  The  imagos  were  then  issuing,  and,  even  in  the  middle  of 
the  day,  they  swarmed  about  the  tops  of  the  leafless  trees  like  bees, 
thousands  and  thousands  of  them.  The  cocoons  literally  covered  the 
twigs,  one  a  foot  in  length  often  containing  a  dozen  or  more  of  them. 
So  completely  defoliated  were  the  trees  at  this  place  that  Dr.  Dyar 
failed  to  find  a  single  leaf  with  which  to  supply  an  aspen-feeding  Not- 
odont  larva  which  he  was  rearing.  Our  observations  were  made 
mostly  at  9,000  to  12,000  feet  altitude.  The  willow  and  rose  were  also 
attacked,  but  not  nearly  so  severely  as  the  aspen.  Over  what  area  this 
injury  extended  I  can  not  say,  having  been  unable  to  make  sufficient 
observations.  In  the  vicinity  of  Cripple  Creek  the  aspens  were  also 
infested,  but  not  nearly  so  badly  as  those  on  Pike's  Peak.  On  reach- 
ing the  summit  of  the  peak  we  found  hundreds  of  the  moths  lying  dead 
or  helpless  on  the  snow  banks.  They  had  evidently  flown  up  from  the 
timber  line,  and,  becoming  benumbed,  fallen  in  the  snow,  there  to  die. 

The  lilac  borer  {Podosesia  syringm  Harr.). — In  West  Denver  numbers 
of  ash  trees  were  completely  killed  by  this  Sesiid  borer.  The  trees 
were  small,  about  6  inches  in  diameter,  and  dozens  of  empty  pupal 
shells  were  protruding  through  the  bark. 

The  fruit-tree  leaf -roller  (Cacaeeia  argyrospHaWsHls..). — The  leaves 
of  living  ash  trees  were  badly  infested  with  the  larvae  of  this  Tortricid. 

A  new  tent  caterpillar  {Clisiocampa  tigris  Dyar). — The  scrub  oak  in 
the  eastern  foothills,  especially  just  west  of  Sedalia,  between  Denver 
and  Colorado  Springs,  was  badly  infested  with  the  larvae  of  this  new 


37 


species  of  Clisiocarnpa.  Many  of  the  trees  (or  more  properly  bushes, 
as  they  seldom,  if  ever,  attain  sufficient  size  to  be  properly  called 
trees)  were  killed  through  repeated  defoliation  by  the  larva?  of  this 
insect.  A  resident  farmer  stated  that  the  caterpillars  were  much  more 
numerous  some  years  than  others.  This  beautifully  marked  larva  was 
first  found  some  5  miles  up  Platte  Canyon,  back  of  Denver,  but 
occurred  there  very  sparingly.  It  eats  only  oak  and  confines  its  attacks 
to  young,  tender  leaves.  It  seems  unable  to  eat  old  leaves,  and  so 
must  mature  before  they  become  tough. 

The  eggs  are  laid  near  the  ground  on  twigs  at  the  base  of  the  trees, 
and  have  no  frothy  covering  as  have  many  species  of  the  genus.  The 
larva?  are  gregarious  when  young,  but  soon  scatter  and  feed  singly. 
They  spin  no  web. 

Trypeta  galls  on  Bigelovia. — At  the  little  station  of  Platte  Canyon, 
at  the  mouth  of  the  canyon  of  that  name,  there  are  great  numbers  of 
Bigelovia.  During  the  latter  part  of  May  every  bush  bears  a  number 
of  white  fluffy  but  compact  galls  as  big  as  hazelnuts.  Often  there 
will  be  found  50  or  more  galls  on  a  single  bush.  They  are  caused  by 
a  beautiful  little  fly,  Aciura  bigloviae  Ckll.  At  this  time  of  the  year 
the  pupa?  may  be  found  within  the  galls,  snugly  incased  in  cells  at  the 
center.  The  pupa  is  about  5mm  long  by  3mm  wide,  oval  in  shape,  and 
varying  in  color  from  pale  yellowish  red  to  brown,  probably  according 
to  age.  The  insects  emerge  by  the  first  of  June,  the  first  ones  appear- 
ing in  the  breeding  cage  on  May  28. 

The  cabbage  looper  (PI usia  brassicse  Riley). — In  the  early  part  of  July 
a  few  observations  were  made  on  injurious  insects  of  the  garden  in  the 
vicinity  of  Delta,  in  Delta  County.  Several  interesting  items  were 
•noted.  The  larva  of  Pkma  brassieae  was  the  main  pest,  and  seemed  to 
be  quite  omnivorous,  eating  not  only  the  cabbage,  but  also  the  potato, 
turnip,  rutabaga,  lettuce,  and  table  and  sugar  beets;  it  was  also 
found  on  a  prickly  poppy-like  plant  locally  called  "wild  lettuce." 
While  the  cabbage  in  some  cases  was  almost  ruined,  it  was  on  the 
lettuce  and  potato,  especially  the  lettuce,  that  the  most  damage  was 
done.  Quite  large  fields  of  potatoes  were  so  eaten  by  this  larva  as  to 
be  easily  noticeable  at  a  considerable  distance,  having  something  the 
appearance  of  being  badly  infested  with  the  potato  beetles.  On  the 
lettuce  the  damage  was  extreme.  In  some  cases  the  plant  was  entirely 
devoured  and  was  eaten  out  below  the  surface  of  the  ground.  The 
rutabagas  and  peas  were  also  badly  eaten.  The  larvae  occurred  in 
various  stages,  some  very  small  and  others  full  grown.  Specimens 
were  sent  to  Dr.  Dyar  at  Denver  to  be  reared,  but  they  failed  to  trans- 
form.   An  inflated  larva  was  preserved. 

The  cottonwood  leaf-beetle  (Lina  sorlpta  Fab.). — The  willows  in  the 
eastern  foothills  visited  by  Dr.  Dyar  and  myself  were  badly  infested 
with  a  Chrysomelid  larva  which  often  occurred  in  sufficient  numbers  to 
completely  skeletonize  the  leaves  of  large  branches.    The  beetles  were 


38 


reared,  and  were  determined  by  Mr,  Schwarz.    The  eggs  arc  deposited  I 
on  the  leaves  about  the  middle  of  May,  and  are  continually  deposited  I 
for  two  or  three  weeks  thereafter,  all  stages — ovum,  larva,  pupa,  and 
imago — being  found  on  the  trees  in  the  earlier  part  of  June.    They  I 
remain  in  the  pupa  state  about  five  days,  specimens  in  the  breeding 
cage  pupating  on  June  1,  and  giving  forth  imagos  on  the  6th.  The 
Larval  period  lasts  but  a  couple  of  weeks,  and  breeding  experiments 
would  probably  show  the  insect  to  be  at  least  double-brooded. 

The  hollworm,  or  corn  ear-worm  (Heliothis  armiger  Hbn.). — Young 
corn  a  couple  of  feet  in  height  near  Delta  was  badly  infested  with  the 
bollworm.  The  leaves  were  in  some  cases  completely  riddled  near 
the  base,  and  the  stalks  badly  burrowed  and  eaten.  This  exceptional 
injury  was  probably  accounted  for  by  the  nearness  of  the  worst 
infested  patch  (a  small  area)  to  an  irrigating  ditch  of  considerable 
size.  Corn  in  dryer  locations  seemed  little  injured.  Corn  on  Low 
wet  soil  is  usually  much  more  liable  to  excessive  injury  from  the  corn 
worm  than  on  high  dry  ground.  Some  }rears  ago  in  Oklahoma  I  saw 
a  small  area  of  field  corn  planted  in  a  very  low  wet  spot  in  the  bend  of 
a  small  creek  that  was  completely  eaten  up  by  the  worms.  The  stalks 
attained  a  height  of  only  about  1  feet  and  were  very  weak  and 
slender,  yet  20  or  more  larvae  could  be  found  in  a  single  plant,  bur- 
rowing the  stalks  so  that  many  fell  over.  Some  plants  had  all  the 
leaves  riddled  and  the  stalk  so  completelly  eaten  out  that  but  part  of 
the  outer  shell  remained.  So  numerous  were  the  larva?  that  maivy  of 
them  were  in  a  fully  exposed  position,  feeding  upon  the  leaves. 

Grasshoppers. — Grasshoppers  were  veiy  abundant  in  Colorado  this 
year.  Several  reasons  may  be  assigned  for  their  unusal  numbers. 
The  season  was  favorable  for  their  development,  and  the  increasing 
abundance  all  over  the  State  of  the  Russian  thistle,  which  is  a  food 
plant  of  a  large  number  of  species,  may  have  had  considerable  influence 
in  the  matter.  Professor  Brunei-  suggested  also  that  the  rapid  killing 
off  of  pheasants  may  be  a  cause  of  grasshopper  increase. 

The  prairie  along  the  eastern  foothills  was  swarming  with  various 
kinds  of  Acridiinse.  Melanophis  bivittatus  was  probably  the  most 
common  species.  At  Delta  this  locust  threatened  to  do  some  damage, 
and  it  occurred  sparingly  at  Grand  Junction,  while  at  Palisades,  12 
miles  north,  none  at  all  were  seen.  This  is  a  very  injurious  species, 
and  Professor  Gillette  places  it  on  an  equal  footing  with  the  codling 
moth  as  an  injurious  insect. 

The  saltbushes,  Sarcobates  vermicidaris,  about  Palisades  were 
infested  with  yEoloplus  chenopodu  Brun.  in  large  numbers.  A  small 
patch  in  the  center  of  the  little  town  was  swarming  with  them.  They 
were  quite  active,  diving  headlong  into  the  prickly  bunches  of  weeds, 
and  proved  quite  difficult  to  capture.  They  were  not  at  all  common 
at  Grand  Junction,  and  were  not  taken  on  the  saltbush  there. 


39 


GRASSHOPPER  NOTES  FOR  1901. 

By  Lawrence  Bkunek,  Temporary  Field  Agent. 

Owing-  to  numerous  reports  received  at  Washington  from  many 
localities  in  the  central  West  concerning  the  continued  presence  in 
more  than  normal  numbers  of  several  species  of  native  grasshoppers 
or  locusts,  the  subject  was  deemed  worthy  of  investigation.  Reports 
coming  from  portions  of  western  Nebraska,  eastern  Colorado,  and 
eastern  and  central  Wyoming  seemed  so  serious  in  their  nature  that 
the  writer  was  commissioned  by  the  United  States  Department  of 
Agriculture  to  make  an  investigation,  so  as  to  ascertain,  if  possible,  the 
true  causes  leading  up  to  this  undue  increase  among  the  several  species 
of  locusts  concerned,  and  to  report  the  results  to  the  Entomologist. 

Accordingly,  August  8,  in  company  with  Mr.  M.  A.  Carriker,  jr.,  an 
assistant,  who  was  to  make  some  special  observations  and  collections 
of  specimens  for  the  Nebraska  Agricultural  Experiment  Station,  a 
start  on  this  tour  of  inspection  was  made.  The  route  chosen  was  first 
to  southwestern  Nebraska  via  the  Denver  branch  of  the  Burlington 
and  Missouri  River  Railroad,  and  the  first  stop  was  at  McCook.  From 
this  place  the  party  proceeded  by  short  journeys  to  Haigler,  then  to 
Akron,  and  to  Brush.  At  the  latter  place  turning  to  the  north,  and 
passing  through  Sterling,  Colo.,  Sidney,  Nebr.,  Bridgeport,  and  Scotts 
Bluff,  they  reached  westward  as  far  as  Guernsey,  Wyo. ,  before  return- 
ing to  Alliance,  Nebr.,  and  Lincoln,  by  way  of  the  Billings  branch  of 
the  same  railroad.  On  this  return  journey  the  central  sand  hill  region 
was  crossed  and  some  notes  on  locust  abundance  were  there  secured. 

Leaving  Lincoln  again  on  August  18,  a  second  journey  was  made; 
this  time  via  the  Fremont,  Elkhorn  and  Missouri  Valley  Railroad  up 
the  Elkhorn  Valley,  the  Niobrara,  the  White  River,  and  the  North 
Platte,  to  Lusk,  Douglas,  and  Casper,  Wyo.,  where  investigations 
were  made  concerning  the  locust  problem  as  it  existed  in  those  regions; 
then  returning  as  far  as  Crawford,  in  which  vicinity  some  work  was 
done,  and  finally  going  on  to  Denver,  Colo.,  where  the  annual  meeting 
of  the  economic  entomologists  was  attended.  From  here  the  return 
trip  to  Lincoln  was  made  over  the  Union  Pacific  Railway  down  the 
Platte  River  Valley.  Thus  most  of  the  remaining  territory  occupied 
by  the  locust  pest  under  consideration  was  covered.  In  these  investi- 
gations the  writer  was  greatly  aided  by  having  transportation  fur- 
nished him  by  the  railroad  companies  mentioned. 

Other  sections  of  the  country  were  also  visited  and  carefully  studied, 
both  before  and  since  the  period  embraced  by  the  commission  men- 
tioned, and  the  results  of  such  investigations  have  been  included  in  the 
conclusions  arrived  at  and  hereto  appended. 

The  following  notes  pertaining  to  the  subject  under  investigation 
were  jotted  down  as  the  work  progressed,  and  in  part  form  the  basis 
for  the  conclusions  reached: 


40 


At  McCook,  Nebr.,  August  i>,  we  collected  some  thirty -odd  species 
of  the  native  grasshoppers,  which  abound  in  this  vicinity.  Most  of 
these  were  from  common  to  numerous  as  regards  abundance.  In  fields, 
both  on  the  table-lands  and  in  the  valley,  the  Melanojjlus  differentialis 
was  exceedingly  abundant;  in  fact  it  appeared  to  be  the  principal 
species  that  was  causing  the  injury  to  crops  and  cultivated  plants.  It 
was  aided,  however,  in  this  work  by  such  other  forms  as  M.  bivittatus, 
M.  atlanis,  M.  packardii — of  the  form  usuall}^  referred  to  as  M. 
fcedus — and  M.  fevkur^rubrum.  Among  the  other  species  which 
existed  in  unusually  large  numbers  were  Dissosteira  longipennis, 
jEoloplus  turnbullii,  M.  occidentalism  M.  conspersus,  M.  lakinus, 
Amphitornus  bicolor,  Aulocara  elliotti,  Mestobregma  kiowa,  etc.;  but 
these  latter  were  feeding  mainly  upon  grasses,  weeds,  and  special  food 
plants  other  than  cultivated  ones. 

In  trying  to  ascertain  just  where  the  insects  which  were  concerned 
in  the  devastation  of  crops  had  hatched,  it  was  found  that  old  break- 
ings seemed  to  furnish  many,  while  the  forsaken  roads,  edges  of  fields 
and  irrigating  ditches,  railroad  beds,  and  like  places,  grown  up  to 
weeds,  had  provided  still  others  with  the  required  breeding  places. 
Alfalfa  fields  growing  next  to  corn  nearly  invariably  occasioned  much 
injury  to  the  corn.  Some  of  the  fields  of  corn  observed  between 
McCook  and  Culbertson  had  been  entirely  destroyed,  and  in  some 
instances  even  the  weeds  between  the  rows  and  about  the  edges  were 
badly  eaten.  A  few  fields  showed  only  here  and  there  the  remnants 
of  bare  stubs,  just  as  I  had  seen  fields  appear  in  the  early  seventies 
after  a  visit  from  the  Rocky  Mountain  locust  plague. 

In  observing  what  plants,  if  any,  were  free  from  the  ravages  of  the 
various  locusts  mentioned  above,  it  was  noticed  that  sorghum  in  most 
cases  had  suffered  but  little,  while  Kaffir  corn  was  nearly  exempt. 
Only  when  Kaffir  corn  was  wilted  did  the  locusts  seem  to  touch  it  at 
all,  and  then  but  slightly  if  other  food  was  available.  Millet,  too, 
seemed  to  be  fairly  immune  against  their  attacks.  Of  course  most 
kinds  of  garden  truck  suffered  severely. 

One  feature  noted  in  connection  with  the  abundance  of  the  sup- 
posedly harmless  locusts  was  the  presence  in  large  numbers  of  M. 
I  til- lints  and  jEoloplvs  turnbullii  on  the  Russian  thistle  and  lamb's- 
quarters.  Nearly  everywhere  that  these  weeds  grew  the  grasshoppers 
just  mentioned  abounded.  Only  a  few  years  ago  both  of  these  species 
of  locusts  were  rare,  usually  extremely  rare,  and  at  the  same  time  very 
local  in  their  distribution.  Since  they  have  already  been  observed  to 
attack  the  beet,  they  may  both  prove  troublesome  in  the  future  should 
attempts  be  made  at  sugar-beet  growing  in  the  regions  now  overrun. 

On  the  prairies  and  other  uncultivated  grounds  two  or  three  grass- 
hoppers besides  those  mentioned  above  seemed  to  be  abnormally  abun- 
dant, Merrniria  bivittata,  Opeia  obscura,  and  Amjiliitornus  bicolor  or 


41 

coloradensis  being  the  chief  ones.  These,  with  the  exception  of  the 
first,  are  found  upon  the  higher  grounds  among  the  shorter  grasses 
like  the  Boutelouas. 

In  driving  and  walking  about  over  the  country,  in  which  move- 
ments 10  or  12  miles  at  a  time  were  covered,  few  dead  or  sick  locusts 
were  seen,  and  inquiry  among  the  farmers  and  other  interested  parties 
gave  the  same  impression  as  to  their  comparative  healthiness.  No 
Empusa-killed  'hoppers  had  been  seen  by  an}Tone  during  the  present 
year,  so  far  as  could  be  learned,  and  only  a  few  had  been  observed  to 
die  from  "grubs"  and  from  what  is  apparently  either  a  bacterial 
disease  or  such  a  disease  in  conjunction  with  a  Sporotrichum.  At 
least  this  last  surmise  seems  to  be  warranted,  since  the  conditions  of 
death  coincide  with  observations  made  a  week  prior  in  an  alfalfa  field 
on  the  North  Platte,  about  17  miles  to  the  northwest  of  the  little  town 
of  Ogallala,  where  the  locusts  of  various  species  had  succumbed  in 
large  numbers.  When  these  were  placed  in  a  dish  for  the  purpose 
of  ascertaining  the  cause  of  their  demise  there  was  obtained  a  fun- 
gous growth,  pronounced  by  Dr.  C.  E.  Bessey,  of  the  University  of 
Nebraska,  to  be  a  species  of  Sporotrichum.  Several  bacteria  were  also 
present  in  large  numbers  within  the  bodies  of  some  of  the  above- 
mentioned  dead  locusts. 

Inquiries  made  among  the  railroad  employees  at  McCook  showed 
that  these  insects  reached  eastward  as  far  as  Red  Cloud  in  numbers 
sufficiently  great  to  perceptibly  injure  cultivated  vegetation  in  both 
gardens  and  fields. 

In  passing  westward  from  McCook  along  the  line  of  the  Burlington 
and  Missouri  River  Railroad,  locust  injury  was  observed  all  the  way  to 
Haigler.  but  seemed  to  be  the  most  pronounced  between  the  former 
place  and  Stratton. 

From  different  persons  questioned  concerning  the  various  measures 
that  had  been  taken  to  combat  the  locusts  in  this  portion  of  the  State, 
it  was  learned  that  the  kerosene  pan  had  been  used  in  a  few  cases, 
while  disking  had  been  resorted  to  by  some,  and  several  had  even 
attempted  the  use  of  poison  in  the  form  of  Paris  green  mixed  with 
bran.  In  some  instances  also  large  flocks  of  chickens  and  turkeys  pro- 
duced some  good  results.  Altogether,  however,  but  little  had  been 
accomplished,  and  no  concerted  action  had  been  undertaken  by  the 
settlers  to  rid  themselves  of  the  pest.  It  would  require  a  concerted 
action  over  the  entire  area  affected,  for  at  least  two  or  three  years  in 
succession,  to  obtain  complete  control  of  the  pest. 

Whether  or  not  the  killing  off  of  the  native  birds  in  this  section  of 
the  State  has  been  much  of  a  factor  in  permitting  this  abundance  of 
the  locust  is  a  query.  One  farmer  near  McCook  remarked  that  a 
couple  of  years  ago  a  certain  locality  near  one  end  of  a  particular 
field  of  his  had  been  protected  by  blackbirds,  a  hundred  or  more  pairs 


42 


of  which  built  nests  and  reared  their  young  near  b}\  Recently,  how- 
ever, the  small  willows  among  which  these  birds  nested  had  been 
removed,  and  the  birds  no  longer  protected  that  particular  field. 

At  Haigler  it  was  ascertained  that  various  species  of  locusts  have 
been  more  than  normally  abundant  for  the  past  six  years.  At  least 
this  can  be  said  of  the  species  which  attack  cultivated  plants  like 
alfalfa,  corn,  wheat,  garden  truck,  etc.  If  an}r  change  in  their  num- 
bers has  occurred  it  is  thought  that  perhaps  there  is  a  slight  decrease 
from  last  }Tear.  As  in  the  vicinity  of  McCook  and  farther  east,  they 
seem  to  breed  chiefly  in  alfalfa  fields,  along  roadsides,  and  in  old 
breakings.  In  addition  to  the  breeding  places  here  recorded,  the 
Russian  thistles,  which  have  become  generally  dispersed  over  this  sec- 
tion of  the  State,  seem  also  to  offer  safe  and  desirable  retreats  for 
several  species  of  these  insects  when  laying  their  eggs.  Not  only  is 
this  true  at  egg-lajTing,  but  also  at  other  times.  These  rank-growing 
plants  provide  shelter  during  hot,  dry  wTeather,  as  well  as  from  rain 
and  hail  storms,  and  offer  safe  retreats  to  the  insects,  even  when  pur- 
sued b}T  such  enemies  as  predaceous  insects  and  birds. 

Of  the  enemies  to  wild  plants  among  these  insects  those  which  appear 
to  be  most  be}rond  the  normal  in  numbers  in  this  vicinit}T  seem  to  be 
Opeia  obscura,  Mestobregma  kioioa,  Melanoplus  lakinus,  M.  bowditchi, 
M.  packardi,  Mermiria  bivittata,  M.  neomexicana,  and  one  or  two 
others.  As  noted  at  McCook,  several  of  these  latter  are  partial  to  cer- 
tain food  plants  which  have  recently  increased  enormously,  which  fact 
probably  explains  their  excessive  numbers.  On  the  other  hand,  spe- 
cies like  the  Mermirias  and  other  grass-infesting  forms  now  abnor- 
mally abundant  have  become  so  from  some  other  cause.  Perhaps  the 
nonoccurrence  of  prairie  fires  for  a  number  of  }Tears  may  account  for 
this,  at  least  in  part,  while  the  destruction  of  such  birds  as  the  sharp- 
tailed  grouse  and  Bartramian  sandpiper,  wTith  the  meadow  lark,  and  a 
few  other  kinds  of  prairie-inhabiting  species,  will  explain  the  excess 
in  numbers  of  some  of  the  remaining  grasshoppers.  Three  species  of 
Decticina?  were  also  quite  abundant  here,  as  was  also  one  of  the  walk- 
ing sticks. 

In  journeying  westward  from  Haigler  grasshopper  injuries  were 
detected  nearly  as  far  as  Akron,  Colo.,  but  beyond  this  point  only 
about  the  normal  numbers  of  these  insects  appeared  to  be  present, 
since  none  of  their  injury  was  visible  from  the  train.  At  Brush,  where 
a  great  deal  of  alfalfa  is  grown,  not  many  of  these  insects  were  reported 
or  seen.  Hence  it  was  judged  that  matters  here  were  nearly  normal 
as  regards  locust  abundance.  From  this  point  the  direction  of  the 
journey  was  changed  and  we  went  north.  At  Sterling,  which  was 
passed  before  daylight  and  where  considerable  injury  was  reported  a 
year  ago,  the  condition  was  not  ascertained,  but  judging  from  what 
was  seen  some  distance  beyond  along  the  line  of  railroad  toward  Sid- 


43 


ney  the  locusts  may  be  on  the  decrease — a  result,  perhaps,  of  some 
concerted  efforts  on  the  part  of  the  farmers  toward  their  destruction 
during-  the  past  two  or  three  years. 

It  was  also  found  upon  investigation  that  these  insects  were  not 
nearly  so  numerous  at  Sidney  as  they  were  farther  to  the  east  along 
the  Lodgepole  Creek  and  the  South  Platte  River.  Still,  even  at  Sid- 
ney*, wherever  and  whenever  cultivated  fields  occurred,  more  of  these 
insects  were  to  be  met  with  than  is  normally  the  case  in  the  region. 
They  were  of  the  usual  species  observed  under  similar  conditions  the 
present  year,  viz  .  various  species  of  the  Melanopli.  as  differentialis, 
J&mttatu&^  femuT^rvbrum,  and  atlanis.  Some  of  the  other  forms  that 
were  not  so  rare  as  at  times  in  the  past  were  species  like  M. packardii, 
31.  occidentalism  M.  luridus,  M.  infantilis,  etc.,  while  a  few  of  the 
prairie-inhabiting  species  mentioned  before  w*ere  also  quite  plentiful. 

In  conversing  with  Mr.  George  Oberfelder.  a  merchant  of  Sidney 
and  a  ranchman.  I  learned  that  at  Lodgepole  the  locusts  were  not 
nearly  so  plentiful  on  his  ranch  as  elsewhere  in  the  neighborhood.  It 
developed  from  further  conversation  with  him  that  on  this  particular 
ranch  are  located  several  quite  extensive  private  fish  ponds  and  low  and 
swampy  ground,  where  two  or  three  species  of  blackbirds  breed,  and 
were,  at  the  time  referred  to,  gathered  in  immense  flocks.  The  presence 
of  these  birds  will  undoubtedly  explain  this  comparative  freedom  from 
locusts  on  the  ranch  in  question.  Mr.  Oberfelder  also  mentioned  the 
fact  that  a  great  destruction  of  the  bird  life,  in  general,  of  the  region 
had  been  accomplished  during  recent  years  by  local  and  other  would-be 
sportsmen. 

While  at  this  place,  in  conversation  with  a  gentleman  from  Gering, 
Scotts  Bluff  Count\*,  it  was  learned  that  during  the  present  year  there 
were  more  grasshoppers  in  the  Pumpkinseed  Valley,  to  the  south  of 
Gering  and  Mitchell,  than  there  were  last  year,  and  also  more  during 
the  present  year  (1901)  than  at  Gering  and  Mitchell.  This  he  accounted 
for  on  the  ground  of  a  partial  migration  southward  both  by  the  old 
insects  prior  to  their  egg  laying  last  fall,  and  again  since  hatching 
during  the  past  spring  and  early  summer.  Just  what  species  of  these 
insects  were  present  in  this  last-named  region  was  not  ascertained,  but 
it  is  presumed  that  most  of  them  were  of  the  kinds  noted  at  nearly  all 
other  points  where  cultivated  vegetation  suffered  from  grasshopper 
depredations.  It  is  also  quite  evident  that  several  of  the  prairie- 
frequenting  species  like  J/,  packardii,  J/,  occidentalism  the  Aulocaras, 
some  of  the  species  of  Trimerotropis,  Trachyrhachis  ldowa,  Ojh ?ia 
obscura,  etc..  were  present  in  more  than  normal  numbers,  since  a 
scarcity  of  food  on  the  ranges  is  reported,  notwithstanding  the  fact 
that  more  than  the  usual  amount  of  rain  had  fallen  during  the  past 
spring  and  summer. 

In  running  west  from  Bridgeport  to  Guernsey,  Wyo.,  it  was  observed 


44 


that  locust  depredations  appeared  to  lesson  materially  as  the  train  pro- 
gressed west  ward  after  entering  Wyoming.  Still  even  here  more  of 
these  insects  were  to  l>o  seen  among  the  weeds  along  the  railroad  track 
than  was  the  case  during  their  normal  abundance  in  past  years.  There 
were  a  number  of  kinds  to  be  met  with  in  the  grasses  about  Guernsey, 
but  the  prevailing  species  seemed  to  be  M.  packardii,  M.  occidentalism 
J/,  atlanis,  An!<><'<<r<i  elliotti,  A.  femoratus,  and  still  others,  which,  like 
M.  differentialis  and  3f.  atlanis,  seem  to  hatch  among  rank-growing 
weeds  as  well  as  upon  cultivated  or  disturbed  grounds. 

In  trying  to  find  a  reason  for  the  greater  increase  of  locusts  in  cer- 
tain localities  during  different  years,  the  matter  of  rainfall  seems  to 
offer  an  explanation  for  at  least  a  portion  of  this  variation.  It  is  quite 
noticeable  that  when  rains  fall  early  in  the  season  the  eggs  of  these 
insects  hatch  much  earlier  than  they  do  when  the  rains  come  later, 
although  the  temperature  may  be  normal  or  even  above  normal.  Then, 
too,  after  each  shower  during  late  spring  and  throughout  the  summer, 
it  is  seen  that  additional  young  ones  hatch.  During  some  }Tears  it  may 
even  be  possible  for  many  of  the  eggs  that  were  deposited  the  previous 
fall  to  remain  unhatched  for  lack  of  the  requisite  amount  of  moisture. 
Should  the  following  year  prove  to  be  a  wet  one  these  eggs  might  then 
hatch  along  with  those  deposited  a  year  later.  That  the  present  year 
has  been  an  exceptional^  wet  one  in  portions  of  the  Northwest  may, 
therefore,  account  for  the  immense  numbers  of  grasshoppers  that  were 
to  be  found  in  that  section.  Still,  there  are  limited  localities  even  in 
this  region  where  scarcety  any  of  these  insects  were  to  be  met  with 
during  the  present  summer,  while  immediately  adjoining  they  were 
literally  swarming.  While  returning  eastward  from  Guernsey  a  severe 
rainstorm  accompanied  by  hail  was  passed  through.  Fully  an  inch  and 
a  half  or  two  inches  of  rather  large  hailstones  fell  over  a  strip  of  country 
several  miles  in  width  and  many  miles  in  length.  During  the  progress 
of  this  storm  the  thought  occurred  to  me  that  possibly  here  was  an 
explanation  of  the  comparative  freedom  of  certain  areas  right  in  the 
midst  of  others  that  were  greatly  overrun  by  destructive  locusts.  The 
hail  in  this  instance  certainly  fell  with  force  and  in  quantity  sufficient  to 
crush  out  the  life  of  the  majority  of  locusts  inhabiting  the  region  in  ques- 
tion. Then,  too,  these  sections  of  comparative  freedom  from  the  pest 
so  frequently  observed  by  the  writer  are  such  as  are  subject  to  severe 
hailstorms. 

As  intimated  on  a  previous  page,  the  Russian  thistle,  in  addition  to 
affording  an  abundant  food  supply  for  certain  species  of  the  native 
locusts,  provides  excellent  shelter  for  their  eggs  as  well  as  the  insects 
themselves.  Tucked  away  beneath  these  formidable  plants  both  the 
insects  and  their  eggs  are  well  protected  from  most  of  their  natural 
enemies,  as  well  as  from  sudden  changes  of  weather.  This  being  true, 
the  Russian  thistle  no  doubt  must  have  had  something  to  do  with  pro- 


45 


ducing  the  present  conditions  in  portions  of  the  region  now  covered 
by  the  locnst  plague. 

At  Caspar,  Wyo.,  August  20,  conditions  while  rather  bad  were  not 
nearly  so  alarming  as  they  were  in  some  portions  of  Nebraska,  and 
farther  east  in  Wyoming.  In  driving  out  among  the  ranches  and 
over  the  range  some  new  light  on  the  probable  cause  of  the  recent 
increase  among  grasshoppers  in  this  and  other  regions  of  the  country 
was  secured. 

Upon  driving  up  to  the  buildings  on  a  ranch  on  Goose  Creek,  about 
10  or  12  miles  southeast  from  Caspar,  a  very  nice  flock  of  sage  grouse 
(30  or  more)  was  observed  walking  about  the  premises  and  picking  up 
grasshoppers.  These  grouse  were  so  tame  that  they  reminded  one  of 
domestic  fowls  as  they  worked  about  among  the  vegetation  in  search 
of  grasshoppers.  During  the  da}T  several  additional  coveys  of  these 
grouse  were  seen  and  the  remnants  of  several  dead  birds  that  had  been 
shot  and  drawn  by  hunters  offered  opportunities  for  examining  the 
stomach  contents.  Such  examinations  invariably  resulted  in  the  find- 
ing of  large  quantities  of  grasshopper  fragments.  By  inquiring 
around  among  ranchmen  it  was  also  ascertained  that  a  great  slaughter 
of  these  birds  had  been  going  on  for  the  past  few  years  in  the  sections 
of  Wyoming  now  most  overrun  by  locusts.  A  careful  survey  of  the 
field  brought  out  the  fact  that  a  similar  destruction  of  these  birds,  as 
well  as  of  the  sharp-tailed  grouse,  has  been  progressing  over  con- 
siderable country.  It  was  learned  that  such  slaughter  had  occurred  at 
Chadron,  Crawford,  Harrison,  McCook,  Culbertson,  Trenton,  Haigler, 
North  Platte,  and  Sidney,  in  Nebraska;  and  at  Lusk,  Douglas,  Orin 
Junction,  Guernsey,  and  elsewhere  in  Wyoming.  At  each  of  these 
localities  the  grasshoppers  were  more  numerous  during  the  past  sum- 
mer than  formerly. 

When  this  idea  first  came  up  in  connection  with  other  probable  rea- 
sons for  the  increase  of  the  various  species  of  locusts  found  it  did  not 
seem  at  all  probable,  but  the  more  I  consider  it,  the  more  I  am  inclined 
to  accept  it  as  an  important  factor  in  the  problem.  When  we  take 
into  consideration  the  fact  that  when  man  occupies  a  new  area  he 
finds  the  forces  of  nature  nearly  or  quite  in  a  state  of  equilibrium, 
no  one  form  of  life  having  much  the  advantage  over  others,  then  does 
this  explanation  of  the  matter  appear  quite  possible.  The  country 
undisturbed  by  man  affords  food  for  a  certain  number  of  mammals, 
birds,  reptiles,  and  insects,  all  of  which  are  more  or  less  interdependent. 
If,  for  instance,  man  removes  a  few  hundreds  of  the  individuals  of  any 
one  species,  he  soon  finds  a  change  taking  place  in  the  numbers  of  indi- 
viduals of  some  other  form.  The  birds  feed  on  both  vegetation  and 
insects.  If  grasshoppers  are  included  in  their  food  a  smaller  number 
of  birds  will  require  a  less  number  of  'hoppers,  and  the  latter  will 
thus  be  given  the  opportunity  to  increase  beyond  the  normal.  This 


46 


surplus  goes  on  increasing  and  ver}T  soon  causes  a  greater  drain  on  the 
vegetation  that  forms  their  1  > 1 1 1  of  fare.  Supposing  that  a  single 
sage  hen  will  destroy  on  an  average  100  locusts  each  day  during 
the  months  of  June,  July,  and  August,  the  removal  of  this  bird  from 
the  held  of  action  will  mean  at  least  9,000  grasshoppers  saved  to  swell 
the  army  of  these  insects  that  may  go  on  eating  and  propagating.  If 
half  of  these  should  be  females,  and  each  one  should  deposit  its  normal 
quota  of  100  eggs,  there  would  be  a  possible  150,000  more  of  these 
insects  than  if  the  bird  had  not  been  killed.  But  when  we  destroy  the 
birds  by  the  hundreds  of  thousands  the  possibilities  become  startling, 
and  this  solution  to  the  problem  seems  more  than  probable. 

Aside  from  the  killing  off  of  these  birds  by  man,  it  is  stated  that 
they  are  destroyed  to  a  considerable  extent  b}^  grazing  sheep  which 
break  up  their  nests.  While  conversing  with  an  intelligent  sheepman 
and  herder  on  this  feature  of  the  subject,  he  mentioned  the  fact  that 
he  had  heard  of  more  than  a  hundred  nests  being  thus  destroyed  in 
a  single  year  on  Hams  Fork  in  western  Wyoming.  Whether  or  not 
the  destruction  of  locusts  by  the  trampling  of  sheep  will  equal  the 
number  that  would  have  been  killed  by  the  birds  thus  destroyed,  I  am 
not  prepared  to  state  at  this  time. 

The  species  of  grasshoppers  concerned  in  the  depredations  on  culti- 
vated tracts  in  the  vicinity  of  Douglas  and  Casper,  Wyo.,  were:  M. 
Mvittatus,  M.  atlanis,  M.  femur-ruhrum*  and  Carnnula pelkicida ;  while 
the  ones  most  abundant  on  the  range  were  Aulocara  elliotti,  A.  femo- 
rata,  Mestobregma  pardalinwn,  Melanoplus  jpackardii,  M.  infantilis, 
M.  occidental/is^  and  several  others. 

While  occupied  in  other  work  in  portions  of  Dawes  and  Sioux  coun- 
ties during  June,  July,  and  August,  1901,  the  writer  gave  consider- 
able attention  to  the  locust  problem  as  it  existed  there.  A  couple  of 
students  who  were  engaged  in  making  collections  of  various  forms  of 
the  animal  life  of  northwestern  Nebraska  were  also  instructed  to  pay 
particular  attention  to  these  insects  in  the  region  being  worked  by 
them.  The  forms  that  frequent  both  cultivated  and  uncultivated 
grounds  were  found  to  be  unusually  abundant  over  much  of  the  countiy 
traversed.  Still  some  sections  were  much  more  overrun  by  them  than 
others.  Especially  was  this  found  to  be  the  case  in  portions  of  Dawes 
and  Sioux  counties,  Nebr.  In  the  latter  county  in  particular  the 
insects  were  most  plentiful  on  the  slopes  adjoining  the  Pine  Ridge  and 
for  a  few  miles  away;  but  not  so  on  the  table-lands  nor  in  the  Hat 
Creek  Valley  itself.  In  many  places  the  insects  were  so  numerous  as 
to  cause  a  shortage  in  the  feed  on  the  range  notwithstanding  the  great 
amount  of  rain  that  fell  here  during  the  early  part  of  the  year.  As 
noted  in  other  localities,  some  species  of  insects  normall}7  rare  in  this 
section  of  the  State  were  found  to  be  present  in  large  numbers. 

Not  only  were  the  "  native"  locusts  abundant  throughout  the  western 


47 


counties  of  Nebraska,  but  in  many  localities  even  in  the  central  and 
eastern  portions  of  the  State,  where  they  did  much  local  injury  to 
garden  truck  and  some  field  crops.  Some  of  the  localities  where  such 
a  state  of  affairs  existed  were  in  Antelope,  Knox,  Dixon,  Cedar,  Holt, 
Valley,  Custer,  Lancaster,  and  counties  adjoining  these.  In  these 
sections  the  differential,  two-lined,  red-legged,  and  lesser  migratory 
species  predominated,  though  others  were  also  present  in  fair  numbers 
both  upon  the  prairies  and  in  cultivated  fields.  A  number  of  the 
local  districts  thus  overrun  were  visited  by  myself  or  some  member 
of  the  entomological  department  of  the  University  of  Nebraska,  while 
others  could  not  be  reached  for  investigation.  It  was  found  that  some 
of  these  outbreaks  embraced  only  a  few  farms  or  several  hundred  acres 
of  territory,  while  others  extended  throughout  entire  counties.  The 
species  of  locusts  concerned  in  these  also  varied  with  the  districts  and 
the  nature  of  surroundings  and  crops  grown.  It  was  noted,  however, 
that  Melanoplus  different talis  and  M.  bivittatus  were  usually  the  chief 
offenders. 

One  of  the  most  important  of  these  local  or  detached  areas  of  locust 
abundance  was  that  in  Custer  County,  with  Broken  Bow  as  a  center. 
In  this  region  the  plague  assumed  really  alarming  proportions,  and 
caused  not  a  little  uneasiness  among  the  citizens,  who  earnestly  sought 
aid  from  the  State  entomologist  and  all  other  persons  who  might  be  in 
a  position  to  give  expert  advice. 

After  carefully  going  over  all  the  notes  which  have  been  brought 
together  during  the  various  trips  made  while  investigating  this  and  other 
insect  pests  and  those  accumulated  in  other  ways,  it  is  found  that  the 
area  now  occupied  b}^  these  insects  in  injurious  numbers  has  become 
much  larger  during  the  present  summer  (1901)  than  it  was  a  year  ago. 
Practically  all  of  the  State  west  of  the  one  hundredth  meridian  is 
embraced,  while  the  valleys  of  the  Niobrara,  Elkhorn,  North  and  South 
Loup,  Platte,  and  Republican  rivers  are  all  more  or  less  largely  over- 
run for  50  to  100  or  more  miles  eastward.  In  some  instances  this  is 
true  locally,  even  to  the  extreme  eastern  edge  of  the  State. 

In  order  to  show  clearly  the  principal  species  of  locusts  thus  con- 
cerned, and  their  distribution  over  the  country,  the  following  list  has 
been  prepared: 

Mermiria  bivittata  Serv. — McCook,  Haigler,  Sioux  County,  and  in  the  sand  hills 
generally  on  unburnt  prairies. 

Mermiria  neomexicana  Thorn. — Haigler  and  other  southwestern  Nebraska  localities, 
where  it  is  found  in  company  with  the  preceding  species. 

Amphitornus  bicolor  Thom. — A  plains  locust  which  occurs  from  middle  Nebraska 
westward  to  the  Rocky  Mountains,  where  it  is  to  be  met  with  in  great  numbers, 
especially  on  the  higher  grounds  among  the  shorter  grasses. 

Opeia  obscura  Thom. — McCook,  Culbertson,  Haigler,  Sidney,  Scotts  Bluff,  Craw- 
ford, and  Harrison,  Nebr. ;  Akron,  Sterling,  and  Brush,  Colo.;  and  Guernsey,  Doug- 
las, and  Casper,  Wyo. ;  most  abundant  in  buffalo  grass. 


48 


Alpha  occipitalis  Thorn. — Western  Nebraska  and  eastern  portions  of  Colorado  and 
Wyoming;  partial  to  gravelly  and  sandy  soils. 

Alpha  crenulata  Bruner. — Southwestern  Nebraska,  western  Kansas,  and  the  plains 
of  Colorado,  in  company  with  the  preceding. 

Phliboetroma  quadrimaculatum  Thorn. — In  the  same  general  region  as  the  two 
preceding. 

Ageneotetti.c  scudderi  Bruner. — This  locust  occurs  throughout  the  plains  region,  but 
is  most  abundant  among  the  short  grasses  on  high  grounds. 

Bo'dpedon  nubilum  Say. — Observed  in  abnormal  numbers  at  Haigler  and  Stratton, 
Nebr.,  and  Wray,  Colo. 

Aulocara  elUotti  Thorn. — McCook,  Culbertson,  Haigler,  Sidney,  Scotts  Bluff,  Sioux 
County,  Nebr.,  and  Guernsey,  Lusk,  Douglas,  and  Casper,  Wyo.  It  was  also  present 
in  abnormal  numbers  in  portions  of  western  Kansas  and  eastern  Colorado.  It  is  a 
grass-infesting  insect. 

Aulocara  femoratum  Scudd. — With  the  preceding  species,  but  most  abundant 
southward. 

Camivda  jiellucida  Scudd. — This  locust  was  seen  only  in  the  extreme  western  part 
of  Nebraska  and  at  Casper,  Wyo.,  where  it  occurred  on  low  land  about  streams  and 
in  mountain  meadows. 

Dissosteira  longipennis  Thorn. — A  native  of  the  high  prairies  of  western  Kansas  and 
Nebraska  and  eastern  Colorado  and  Wyoming;  not  nearly  so  abundant  as  it  was  four 
or  five  years  ago. 

Mestobregma  hiowa  Thorn. — A  grass-infesting  locust  that  occurs  everywhere  between 
the  Missouri  River  and  Rocky  Mountains,  but  chiefly  on  high  ground. 

Mestobregma  pardalinum  Sauss. — A  grass  insect  found  chiefly  in  western  Nebraska, 
northeastern  Colorado,  and  eastern  and  central  Wyoming. 

Schistocerca  alutacea  Harr. — This  insect  was  reported  to  be  present  in  large  numbers 
at  Neligh,  Albion,  Haigler,  Ogallala,  and  throughout  the  sand  hills  of  central  Nebraska 
generally. 

Hesperotettix  pratensk  Scudd. — Antelope,  Holt,  and  Wheeler  counties  on  the 
prairies,  but  usually  on  low  ground,  where  certain  species  of  golden-rod  abound. 

Hesperotettix  riridis  Thorn. — Eastern  Colorado  and  Wyoming  and  western  Nebraska, 
where  it  is  restricted  to  certain  localities. 

Hesperotettix  speciosus  Scudd. — Western  Kansas  and  Nebraska  and  eastern  Colo- 
rado, among  different  species  of  sunflowers. 

JEoloplus  turnbullii  Thorn. — In  the  same  general  region  as  the  preceding,  where  it 
seems  to  be  partial  to  chenopodiaceous  plants. 

JEoloplus  regalis  Dodge. — Northwest  Kansas,  southwest  Nebraska,  and  eastern 
Colorado,  on  rather  high  grounds. 

Melanoplus  boicditchi  Scudd. — Western  Kansas  and  Nebraska  and  eastern  Colorado 
and  Wyoming  on  Artemisia  longifolia. 

Melanoplus  flavidus  Scudd. — This  insect  was  noticed  in  numbers  at  Culbertson, 
Sidney,  Scotts  Bluff,  North  Platte,  Ogallala,  and  Neligh,  Nebr.,  and  at  Guernsey, 
Wyo.    It  appears  to  be  partial  to  low,  sandy  soil. 

Melanoplus  packardii  Scudd. — McCook,  Culbertson,  Haigler,  Ogallala,  Sidney, 
North  Platte,  Crawford,  and  Harrison,  Nebr.,  Wray  and  Sterling,  Colo.,  and  Guern- 
sey, Douglas,  and  Caspar,  Wyo.  The  rufous  form  usually  mentioned  as  M.  foedus  is 
by  far  the  most  numerous. 

Melanoplus  coccineipes  Scudd. — Fairly  abundant  at  Culbertson,  Sidney,  Ogallala, 
North  Platte,  and  Fort  Robinson,  in  Nebraska,  where  they  seemed  to  choose  Cleome 
sei^rulata  as  a  food  plant,  or  at  least  upon  which  to  perch. 

Melanoplus  infantilis  Scudd. — On  the  high  prairies  in  western  Nebraska  and  eastern 
Wyoming. 


49 


Melanoplus  femur-rubrum  DeG. — Throughout  the  region  in  cultivated  districts. 
Melanoplus  plumbeus  Dodge. — At  Haigler,  Nebr.,  on  weeds  and  other  rank  vege- 
tation. 

Melanoplus  lakinus  Scudd. — Western  Kansas  and  Nebraska  and  eastern  Colorado, 
on  Russian  thistle  and  lamb's-quarters. 

Melanoplus  occidental is  Thorn. — On  the  open  prairie,  west  of  the  one  hundredth 
meridian,  in  all  four  States  in  which  work  was  done  during  the  summer. 

Melanoplus  atlanis  Riley. — Cultivated  grounds  generally,  but  less  numerous  than 
M.  femur-rubrum. 

Melanoplus  biviUatus  Say. — In  ne  dy  every  locality  where  locust  depredations  were 
reported,  and  especially  in  cultivated  districts. 

Melanoplus  differ enixalu  Uhler. — Possibly  the  most  abundant  of  all  the  species  of 
locusts  mentioned  in  this  paper,  and  present  in  all  localities  except  those  in  the 
extreme  northwestern  corner  of  Nebraska  and  central  Wyoming.  The  chief  insect 
in  alfalfa  districts. 

Of  these  the  following  species  seem  to  be  confined  more  or  less  closely  to  special 
food  plants,  and  are  therefore  somewhat  restricted  in  their  distribution: 

Hesperotettix pratensis  Scudd. — On  Solidago  graminifolia  or  8.  caroliniana. 

Hesperotetti.v  viridis  Thorn. — On  Haplopappus  spinulosus. 

Hesperotettix speciosus  Scudd. — On  Helianthus,  several  species. 

jEoloplvs  turnbuUii  Thorn. — On  Russian  thistle  and  lamb's-quarters. 

Melanoplus  bowditchi  Scudd. — On  Artemisia  longifolia. 

Melanoplus  lakinus  Scudd. — On  Russian  thistle  and  lamb's-quarters. 

Those  which  are  especially  noticeable  as  enemies  of  cultivated  crops  are  Mi  lanoplus 
diferentialis,  M.  bivittatus,  M.  femur-rubrum  and  M.  atlanis,  along  with  M.  packardii. 
The  remainder  are  chiefly  grass  eaters  or  feed  upon  various  uncultivated  plants. 

WHY  LOCUSTS  INCREASE  ABNORMALLY. 

After  having  carefully  scrutinized  the  notes  relating  to  the  locust 
problem  in  the  region  embraced  in  the  investigations  chronicled  on 
the  preceding  pages,  together  with  all  other  available  information  on 
the  subject  in  general,  the  writer  has  come  to  the  following  conclusions 
as  to  why  grasshoppers  increase  abnormally: 

(1)  The  growing  of  alfalfa  without  regularly  disking  the  ground  each  spring. 

(2)  The  abandoning  of  once  cultivated  fields,  and  permitting  thereon  the  growth 
of  weeds  and  other  rank  herbage. 

(3)  The  very  general  carelessness  of  allowing  weeds  and  other  rank  growths  to 
flourish  along  roadsides,  irrigating  ditches,  and  railway  tracks. 

(4)  The  presence  in  great  abundance  of  the  Russian  thistle  in  portions  of  the 
country  year  after  year. 

(5)  The  non-burning  of  prairies  over  wide  areas  for  a  number  of  years  in  succession. 

(6)  The  undue  destruction  of  game  and  other  insectivorous  birds  over  wide  areas. 

(7)  The  recurrence  of  unusually  wet  years  after  several  abnormally  dry  ones. 

(8)  The  absence  of  insect  enemies  and  diseases  brought  about  by  various  causes, 
chiefly  climatic. 

It  is  but  just  to  state  here  that  lack  of  space  prevents  a  very  elab- 
orate discussion  of  these  various  reasons  for  locust  increase. 


3622— No.  38—04  4 


50 


KILLING  DESTRUCTIVE  LOCUSTS  WITH  FUNGOUS  DISEASES. 

By  Lawrence  Bkuner,  Temporary  Field  Agent. 

The  fact  that  various  kinds  of  insects  are  at  times  attacked  and 
destroyed  by  different  species  belonging  to  several  distinct  genera  of 
fungi  has  been  known  to  both  botanists  and  entomologists  for  many 
years.  It  is,  however,  a  matter  of  comparatively  recent  discovery  that 
some  of  these  fungi  can  be  artificially  grown  and  afterwards  commu- 
nicated to  the  insects  which  it  is  desired  to  destroy.  Numerous  exam- 
ples of  the  propagation  and  spread  of  such  fungi  have  been  recorded 
in  this  and  other  countries.  Some  noted  examples  of  this  kind  are  the 
artificial  spread  of  Isaria  densa  Link,  the  fungus  that  attacks  the 
European  cockchafer  and  that  has  also  been  tried  on  the  white  grubs 
here  in  the  United  States;  Sporotrichum  globvliferum  Spag.  as  used 
against  the  chinch  bug  and  several  other  insects,  and  Empusa  muscae, 
the  common  fungus  of  the  house  fly.  Along  with  what  has  been 
recorded  concerning  these  attempts  at  utilizing  the  fungi  just  men- 
tioned, it  might  be  well  here  to  outline  some  of  the  efforts  that  have 
been  made  during  recent  years  toward  fighting  destructive  locusts  or 
grasshoppers  b}r  similar  means.  It  is  not  necessary,  however,  for  one 
to  devote  much  time  in  investigation  to  ascertain  that  the  whole  matter 
relating  to  this  subject  is  still  in  great  confusion.  It  will  at  once  be 
apparent  that  nothing  very  definite  exists  in  the  shape  of  reliable  infor- 
mation concerning  the  particular  fungi  that  may  be  present  and  avail- 
able in  each  of  the  regions  where  there  is  need  for  waging  war  against 
the  locust  plague.  Even  the  botanists  who  are  interested  in  this  group 
of  plants  seem  to  have  done  comparatively  little  toward  isolating  and 
separating  the  species,  from  the  standpoint  of  the  systematist. 

During  the  early  seventies,  when  such  vast  swarms  of  the  Rocky 
Mountain  or  migratory  locust  were  devastating  the  country  between 
the  Mississippi  River  and  the  Rocky  Mountains,  attention  was  fre- 
quently called  to  an  apparent  disease  which  occasionally  made  its  appear- 
ance among  the  devouring  hordes  of  that  pest  in  various  sections  of 
the  country.  After  a  little  investigation  on  the  part  of  members  of 
the  Entomological  Commission  and  others,  this  fatality  among  the 
locusts  was  found  to  be  due  to  the  presence  of  a  fungus  which  is  now 
generally  recognized  as  Empusa  grylU,  although  it  has  been  several 
times  described  under  other  names. 

While  locusts  in  general  are  more  or  less  frequently  attacked  by 
these  fungi,  particular  ones  among  the  locusts  indigenous  to  each 
country  seem  to  be  more  subject  than  others.  These  usually,  though 
not  always,  happen  to  be  the  forms  that  at  times  become  so  greatly 
multiplied  as  to  be  pests.  This  fact  would  indicate  that  it  is  necessary 
for  the  insects  to  come  in  contact  one  with  another  in  order  to  spread 
the  fungus  sufficiently  to  develop  an  epidemic. 


51 

These  epidemics  of  the  disease  usually  occur  during  warm,  wet 
weather,  or  after  such  conditions  of  climate  have  been  prevailing  for 
several  weeks  in  succession.  They  are  also  quite  apt  to  develop 
among  the  insects  living  along  the  edges  of  irrigating  ditches  or  on 
grounds  which  have  been  thoroughly  watered,  rather  than  on  those 
which  are, comparatively  high,  dry,  and  more  or  less  widely  removed 
from  water  or  rank,  succulent  vegetation. 

Early  in  1890  (March)  the  subject  of  utilizing  locust-attacking  fungi 
as  a  means  of  destroying  these  insects  came  more  prominently  before 
the  public.  In  South  Africa,  where  two  species  of  these  insects  had 
been  a  pest  for  several  years,  it  was  found  that  a  disease  of  a  virulent 
nature  had  broken  out  and  was  prevalent  in  the  form  of  an  epidemic 
among  the  swarms  in  certain  localities.  An  investigation  instituted  at 
the  time  showed  this  disease  to  be  due  to  the  presence  of  one  of  these 
species  of  fungi.  Armed  with  the  assurance  that  other  insects  had 
been  successful^  inoculated  and  destroyed  by  fungous  diseases  in 
Europe  and  the  United  States,  members  of  the  staff  of  the  Bac- 
teriological Institute  in  that  country  took  the  matter  in  hand  and 
were  successful  in  their  attempts  to  isolate  a  fungus  which  was  thought 
to  be  the  one  that  was  destroying  the  insects  in  question,  a  species  of 
large  migratory  locust  (Acridium  purpuriferum  Walk.).  A  brief 
account  of  the  methods  followed  and  results  Obtained  from  this  work 
is  given  by  Alexander  Edington,  the  director,  in  his  annual  report  for 
1898  of  the  Colonial  Bacteriological  Institute,  located  at  Grahamstown, 
Cape  of  Good  Hope. 

A  year  or  so  later  (June,  1897),  during  investigations  that  were  being 
made  at  the  time  in  connection  with  the  large  migratory  locust  of  the 
Argentine  Republic  {Schistocerca  paranensis  Burm.),  the  writer  dis- 
covered what  appeared  to  be  still  another  and  quite  distinct  species  of 
these  locust-destroying  fungi — a  Sporotrichum.  This  discovery  was 
made  at  Carcarana,  a  little  town  in  southern  Santa  Fe,  on  the  Central 
Argentine  Railway,  and  some  experiments  conducted  later  during  the 
same  year  demonstrated  its  usefulness,  under  certain  limitations,  as  a 
means  of  combating  that  insect.  The  South  African  fungus  referred 
to  above  was  also  tried  on  the  same  locust,  but  with  exceedinghT  poor 
results  so  far  as  could  be  ascertained  at  the  time.  Still  more  recent 
attempts  at  destroying  various  kinds  of  our  North  American  locusts 
with  both  of  these  fungous  diseases  (South  African  and  Argentinian) 
have  resulted  in  no  marked  degree  of  success,  so  far  as  the  writer  is 
concerned  at  least. 

During  the  past  two  or  three  }rears  other  persons  have  been  con- 
ducting similar  experiments  with  these  same,  and  apparently  some 
other,  locust-killing  fungi.  A  few  of  these  recent  experiments  carried 
on  by  other  workers  seem  to  have  proven  more  successful  than  those 
just  mentioned  above.    One  in  particular  appeared  to  be  very  prom- 


52 


ising  at  the  time  it  occurred.  This  was  at  Sterling,  Colo.,  and  was 
conducted  by  a  Mr.  George  W.  Martin,  who  obtained  tubes  of  the 
fungus  culture  from  the  Department  of  Agriculture  in  Washington. 
The  writer  on  visiting  the  localit}^  found  that,  although  the  native 
locusts  of  two  or  three  species  were  dying  in  large  numbers,  they  all 
fell  to  the  ground  instead  of  clinging  to  the  vegetation,  as  they  should 
have  done  if  death  had  resulted  from  the  South  African  disease  accord- 
ing to  the  account  referred  to  above.  Then,  too,  reports  of  similar 
fatalities  among  the  "hoppers,  coming  from  localities  widely  removed 
from  where  the  fungus  in  question  had  been  distributed,  seemed  to 
indicate  the  presence  of  another  and  entirely  distinct  disease.  During 
the  present  }^ear  (August,  1901,)  a  culture  of  a  species  of  Sporotrichum 
has  been  secured  from  such  dead  insects  gathered  on  the  North  Platte 
River  and  about  16  miles  from  Ogallala,  Xebr. 

In  Australia  it  is  reported  that  a  fungus  determined  as  Mucor  race- 
mosw,  cultures  of  which  were  obtained  from  South  Africa,  has  proved 
so  useful  in  destroying  the  destructive  locusts  of  Victoria  that  it  is  no 
longer  considered  an  experiment,  but  has  passed  into  a  matter  of  every- 
day practice.  Either  this  same  Mucor  or  a  closely  allied  one  is  also 
claimed  to  have  been  secured  from  insects  which  died  as  the  result  of 
an  outbreak  of  a  locust  disease  in  Mississippi,  as  will  be  referred  to 
more  fully  further  on. 

It  will  be  seen  from  what  has  just  been  said  that  there  are  without 
doubt  several  distinct  kinds  of  these  locust-killing  fungi,  and  that  they 
are  not  the  same  the  world  over.  The  knowledge  of  this  fact  is  per- 
haps very  fortunate  if  we  are  to  profit  at  all  in  our  attempts  to  make 
use  of  them  in  dealing  with  the  locust  pest. 

Since  each  species  of  locust  differs  in  structure  and  habits  more  or 
less  markedly  from  all  others,  and  the  climatic  and  other  conditions 
by  which  the}T  are  surrounded  in  their  respective  habitats  are  so  dis- 
similar in  many  instances,  it  must  be  true  that  a  great  diversity  like- 
wise exists  among  them  as  regards  hardiness.  Hence  it  is  natural  for 
us  to  suppose  that  the  various  fungi  which  are  apt  to  attack  and  destroy 
them  must  also  vary  in  these  respects.  That  such  a  conclusion  is 
warranted  can  be  gathered  from  what  follows. 

EMPUSA  GRYLLI. 

Perhaps  the  most  characteristic  of  these  different  locust-attacking 
fungi  is  the  one  recognized  the  world  over  as  Emjpusa  grylli  Fres. 
It  has  been  known,  botanically  at  least,  since  1856,  when  it  was  first 
described  by  G.  Fresenius  (Botanische  Zeitung,  Band  XIV,  p.  882, 
1856).  Not  only  does  it  attack  the  different  species  of  destructive 
locusts  (members  of  the  family  Acridiidre),  some  of  the  hairy  cater- 
pillars, and  a  few  of  the  crane  flies  along  with  their  larva?,  but  it  is 
also  frequently  to  be  found  as  an  enemy  of  various  other  orthopter- 


53 


ous  insects.  Among  these  latter  it  has  been  observed  especially  as  an 
enemy  of  some  of  the  representatives  of  the  two  remaining  families 
of  saltatorial  Orthoptera — Locustidge  and  GryllidaB. 
-  This  malady  is  quite  readily  recognized,  since  the  host  when  affected 
by  it  has  a  tendency  before  death  to  crawl  upward  upon  the  vegeta- 
tion where  it  chances  to  be  at  the  time  of  infection.  Here  it  grasps 
the  leaf,  twig,  or  stem  closely  and  fastens  itself  so  securely  that  it 
remains  clinging  tenaciously  even  after  death.  As  stated  above,  all 
kinds  of  locusts  and  also  their  relatives  are  affected  alike  by  it;  and 
many  of  their  dead  bodies  may  frequently  be  seen  still  attached  to  the 
vegetation  in  late  fall  and  early  winter.  Just  what  the  pathological 
effect  is  upon  the  victim,  which  causes  this  tenacious  grasping  or 
clutching  with  the  front  and  middle  legs,  may  never  be  known.  Yet, 
in  a  general  sense,  it  may  be  remarked  that  all  insects  dying  from  the 
effects  of  any  of  the  allied  species  belonging  to  the  genus  Empusa 
exhibit  this  same  characteristic  of  climbing  before  death.  Even  such 
characteristically  subterranean  insects  as  the  various  species  of  Ceu- 
thophilus.  or  camel  crickets,  when  attacked  by  this  fungus,  are  known 
to  leave  their  customary  moist,  dark  haunts  and  climb  up  bushes  and 
other  vegetation  even  to  the  height  of  several  feet,  where  their  dead 
bodies  may  occasionally  be  seen  hanging  for  some  time  afterwards. 

Whether  or  not  the  Empusa?  which  attack  the  various  orthopterous 
insects  in  different  portions  of  the  earth  are  identical  in  species  is  not 
definitely  known,  although  they  are  supposed  to  be  so  by  some  of  the 
leading  mycologists  who  have  studied  these  peculiar  parasitic  plants. 
Be  this  as  it  may.  minor  variations  in  growth  and  structure  have  been 
noted  among  the  forms  indigenous  to  the  different  countries  where 
collected  and  studied.  These  differences  have  led  to  the  multiplying 
of  names,  so  that  we  now  have  at  least  three  distinct  names,  if  not  that 
many  actual  species. 

An  insect,  when  once  attacked  by  this  fungus,  soon  shows  signs  of 
unrest  and  ceases  feeding.  It  shortly  becomes  "dumpish"  and  in  due 
time  attaches  itself  to  the  vegetation  as  stated  above.  The  whole  body, 
but  more  especially  the  abdomen,  swells  greatly  and  seems  to  be  lit- 
erally filled  with  a  mushy,  granular  substance  which,  upon  drying, 
changes  to  a  brownish,  dust-like  character.  A  little  later  this  dust, 
which  is  made  up  largely  of  resting  spores,  escapes  through  the  breaks 
between  the  joints  of  the  insect's  body  and  is  scattered  broadcast  by 
the  winds. 

Comparatively  little  is  known  concerning  the  life  cycle  of  this  fungus 
or  of  the  methods  by  which  infection  of  the  host  occurs  from  year  to 
year.  That  it  must  be  done  by  contact  rather  than  through  the  ali- 
mentary canal  is  quite  probable,  judging  from  reports  of  experiments 
made  by  Dr.  Roland  Thaxter  and  mentioned  in  his  Monograph  of  the 
Entomophthoreae  of  the  United  States.    The  resting  spores  must  also 


54 


be  exceedingly  tenacious  of  life,  since  several  years  may  elapse  between 
outbreaks  of  the  disease.  Still  no  such  regular  intervals  of  recurrence 
of  the  disease  have  been  noted  as  would  tend  to  show  a  periodicity. 
Neither  does  there  seem  to  be  a  regular  time  of  the  year  for  its  appear; 
ance.  nor  has  it  a  preference  for  insects  of  any  particular  age,  since 
those  of  all  ages  seem  at  one  time  or  another  to  succumb  to  its  attacks. 
Sometimes,  though  rarely,  it  may  he  noticed  first  in  late  spring  or 
early  summer;  at  other-,  and  more  frequently,  during  midsummer, 
and  again  even  in  late  summer  and  early  autumn,  or  possibly  not  until 
just  before  cold  weather  commences  in  late  fall,  when  it  seems  to  be 
most  common. 

Dr.  Thaxter  says:  " The  artificial  propagation  of  Empusse  by  the 
infection  of  fresh  hosts  I  have  found  a  much  more  difficult  matter 
than  one  w  ould  suppose,  even  where  the  infected  host  was  of  the  same 
species  as  that  from  which  the  spores  were  obtained  for  this  purpose." 
(L.  c,  p.  152.)  Not  alone  has  Dr.  Thaxter  found  this  difficulty  in  secur- 
ing artificial  infection,  but  other  persons  have  also  learned  the  same 
fact  fully  when  attempting  to  make  use  of  the  fungus  as  a  means  of 
destroying  locusts.  In  truth,  the  writer  has  found  it  impossible  to 
impart  the  fungus  artificially  to  a  single  insect  in  either  the  laboratoiy 
or  the  held.  It  might  be  well,  however,  to  state  here  that  these  exper- 
iments by  the  writer  were  purposely  carried  on  in  a  very  crude  man- 
ner, since  their  object  was  to  secure  results  that  might  also  be  obtained 
by  farmers  who  are  not  equipped  with  carefully  arranged  laboratories. 

If  we  make  an  exception  of  the  matter  on  this  subject  that  has  been 
reported  from  the  Bacteriological  Institute  of  Grahamstown,  Cape  of 
Good  Hope,  it  appears  that  up  to  the  present  time  all  of  the  experi- 
ments that  have  been  attempted  for  the  purpose  of  growing  this  fungus 
artificially  in  the  laboratory  have  been  very  unsatisfactory.  After  hav- 
ing studied  the  subject  carefully  by  reference  to  the  available  literature, 
and  noting  critically  such  facts  as  appear  pertinent,  and  which  are 
given  below,  it  is  the  writer's  opinion  that  the  exception  just  suggested 
is  justifiable. 

The  typical  region  for  Empusa  grylli  is  Europe,  and  in  that  country 
perhaps  it  has  been  most  frequently  reported.  But  the  reader  should 
not  infer  from  this  statement  that  this  fungus  is  of  rare  occurrence 
elsewhere,  for  such  is  not  the  case.  Here  in  North  America  it  is  among 
the  most  abundant  of  fungus  plants,  and  it  is  to  be  regularly  met  with 
each  year  in  suitable  localities  throughout  the  length  and  breadth  of 
the  land.  In  fact,  it  very  frequently  occurs  as  an  epidemic  among  the 
locusts  in  regions  where  various  species  of  these  insects  have  developed 
as  pests.  This  same  or  a  closely  allied  fungus  was  occasionall}T 
referred  to  by  correspondents  as  indigenous  to  Argentina  while  the 
writer  was  in  that  country  several  years  ago,  and  quite  recently 
notices  of  its  occurrence  in  Japan  and  the  Philippine  Islands  have 
been  seen. 


55 


By  referring  to  the  annual  report  of  the  Director  of  the  Colonial 
Bacteriological  Institute  of  the  Cape  of.  Good  Hope  for  1898  it  will 
be  learned  that  the  much-advertised  South  African  locust  fungus  has 
been  determined  by  the  working  force  of  that  institution  to  be  an 
Empusa;  and  the  name  Empusa  acridiihm  been  suggested  for  it  since 
it  was  reported  to  have  attacked  other  species  than  the  red  locust 
tAcridium purpuriferum  Walk.),  one  of  the  chief  destructive  species 
of  that  section.  Plates  I,  II,  and  HI.  which  are  photographic  repro- 
ductions accompanying  that  report,  show  these  locusts  as  they  appear 
upon  the  vegetation  after  death  caused  by  the  fungus.  Judging  from 
what  is  known  concerning  the  actions  of  insects  after  having  been 
attacked  by  different  fungi,  a  person  who  is  conversant  with  the  sub- 
ject would  at  once  pronounce  the  malady  portrayed  here  to  be  that 
resulting  from  the  presence  of  an  Empusa.  To  verity  this  conclusion 
in  part  we  have  the  following  records:  Mr.  Charles  P.  Lounsbury, 
government  entomologist,  in  the  Agricultural  Journal  of  the  Cape  of 
Good  Hope,  February  2,  1899,  says  that  the  disease  is  apparently 
identical  with  Empusa  (fryJIu  and  quotes  as  authority  for  this  state- 
ment Dr.  Schonland  and  Dr.  Black,  of  the  Bacteriological  Institute  of 
Natal.  Also  Dr.  Munro,  in  his  book  on  the  Locust  Plague  (p.  182), 
quotes  from  a  Mr.  Evans  as  follows: 

On  the  4th  of  this  month  I  wrote  a  letter  stating  that  a  fungus  had  been  found  in  a 
locust  causing  its  death,  and  it  was  afterwards  determined  by  Mr.  George  Murray, 
F.  L.  S.,  head  of  the  botanical  department  of  the  British  Museum,  as  Empusa  gryUi. 

While  the  insects  in  question  have  apparently  died  as  a  result  of  the 
presence  of  an  Empusa,  an  entirely  different  fungus  appears  to  have 
been  isolated  from  the  dead  locusts  and  afterwards  grown  in  quantity 
and  sent  out  from  the  laboratoiy  to  be  utilized  in  fighting  the  same 
pests.  In  this  report,  referred  to  above,  we  find  a  description  and 
illustrations  of  a  fungus  which  in  no  wise  resembles  or  approaches 
Empusa.  In  fact,  both  the  descriptions  and  figures  suggest  a  Mucor 
instead,  and  possibly  the  world-wide  distributed  Mucor  raeemosus  Fres. , 
which  does  not  belong  to  the  insect-destroying  fungi  at  all,  but  to  the 
ordinary  molds.  Strangely  enough  the  tubes  of  the  so-called  South 
African  locust  fungus  received  by  the  writer,  both  while  in  Argentina 
during  1898  and  here  in  Nebraska  two  }Tears  later,  contained  fine 
growths  of  what  was  evidently  the  above-named  Mucor. 

In  glancing  over  the  files  of  the  Journal  of  the  Department  of  Agri- 
culture of  Western  Australia  for  July,  1901,  a  statement  was  found 
to  the  effect  that  "  The  destruction  of  locusts  by  means  of  a  parasitic 
fungus  {Mucor  raeemosus)  has  now  passed  from  the  domain  of  experi- 
mentation into  that  of  everyday  practice.  The  method  which  has  been 
tried  in  various  places  where  swarms  of  locusts  proved  troublesome 
to  vegetation,  notably  South  Africa,  has  been  for  the  past  two  or  three 
years  successfully  applied  in  Victoria." 


56 


The  Agricultural  Gazette  of  New  South  Wales  (vol.  10,  1899, 1 
p.  1213)  contains  "A  brief  report  of  locust  fungus,"  by  D.  McAlpine, 
in  which  the  writer  says  that  a  fungus  which  has  been  used  against 
locusts  at  Cape  of  Good  Hope  with  good  success  has  also  been  intro- 
duced into  New  South  Wales  and  identified  by  him  as  Mucor  racemosus. 

In  looking  up  the  bibliography  of  the  fungus  called  Mucor  racemosus 
it  was  found  that  two  quite  distinct  plants  have  received  this  name. 
One  of  these  was  described  hy  Bulliard  in  Hist.  Champs.,  France,  and 
is  said  by  DeCandolle  to  belong  to  the  genus  Botrytis  as  now  limited. 
The  name  of  this  fungus  would  then  appear  as  Botrytis  racemosa 
(Bull.)  DC;  while  the  other,  which  has  been  the  one  under  considera- 
tion, should  be  known  as  Mucor  racemosus  Yves,  (Beitrage  zur  Mykolo- 
gie).  The  Botrytis  has  been  found  upon  putrid,  oily,  or  greasy 
substances  in  France  and  Germany,  while,  on  the  other  hand,  the 
Mucor  occurs  quite  generally  over  the  world  as  a  common  mold  that 
attacks  decaying,  starchy,  and  other  substances. 

Being  so  generally  distributed,  and  withal  so  readily  grown,  there 
is  no  wonder  that  this  last  mentioned  should  have  been  the  fungus 
isolated,  as  heretofore  stated,  instead  of  the  Empusa,  which  is 
extremel}'  difficult  to  grow  upon  various  culture  media,  such  as  are 
used  for  the  artificial  propagation  of  bacteria. 

It  might  be  mentioned  also  that  in  our  experiments  here  at  the 
University  of  Nebraska  we  have  experienced  great  difficulty  in  isolat- 
ing any  particular  fungus,  and  especially  with  recognized  insect- 
attacking  genera  like  Empusa.  Botrytis.  Sporotrichum,  and  Isaria. 
Almost  invariably  these  would  be  accompanied  by  saprophytic  fungi, 
such  as  Mucor,  Fusarium,  Alternaria,  Macrosporium,  Aspergillus, 
etc.,  which  would  very  quickly  crowd  the  others  out. 

If  the  reader  will  take  the  trouble  to  refer  to  the  instructions  which 
accompany  the  various  tubes  of  this  South  African  locust  fungus 
when  they  are  distributed  he  will  find  the  following  directions  given 
for  securing  an  abundant  supply  of  the  material: 

Collect  a  large  number  of  grasshoppers  which  have  died  from  the  fungus.  Dig  a 
hole  in  the  ground  about  18  inches  deep  and  1  foot  wide.  Strew  some  grasshoppers 
over  the  bottom,  then  sprinkle  some  water  over  them.  Kepeat  with  grasshoppers 
and  again  sprinkle  until  the  hole  is  full.  Do  not  press  the  grasshoppers  in  the  hole, 
but  leave  them  lightly  packed.  Then  cover  with  a  piece  of  tin  or  board  and  keep 
the  hole  thus  carefully  covered  for  four  or  five  days.  If  warm  weather,  four  days 
will  be  sufficient,  but  if  colder  a  longer  time  will  be  required.  At  the  end  of  this 
time  remove  the  grasshoppers  and  spread  them  out  in  the  sun  for  an  hour  or  two, 
or  until  thoroughly  dry.  Now  grind  them  into  a  meal.  Of  this  meal,  which  may 
be  kept  dry  for  a  long  time  until  wanted,  take  two  tablespoonfuls  and  add  it  to  a 
large  tumblerful  of  water,  into  which  some  sugar  has  been  placed.  Leave  this  in  a 
warm  place  for  twelve  to  forty-eight  hours,  and  then  treat  live  grasshoppers  by  dip- 
Ding,  etc.,  just  as  one  does  when  using  the  fungus  when  supplied  in  tubes. 

If  such  a  proceeding  as  that  just  described  does  not  result  in  the 
growth  of  a  variety  of  common  molds,  Mucor  racemosus  among  them, 


57 


nothing  will  do  so.  Even  had  the  insects  which  were  collected  and 
buried  been  killed  by  poison,  boiling  water,  heat,  or  in  some  other 
violent  manner,  and  treated  in  a  similar  way,  the  result  would  in  all 
probability  have  been  quite  similar.  But  when  these  insects  die  from 
disease  and  drop  to  the  ground  in  a  variety  of  localities,  and  later  are 
gathered  together,  there  is  no  telling  how  many  different  kinds  of 
saprophytic  fungi  may  have  come  in  contact  with  and  adhered  to  them. 
Even  Empusa-killed  insects,  attached  to  vegetation  a  considerable  dis- 
tance from  the  ground,  would  themselves  become  infested,  and  under 
favorable  conditions  support  a  great  variety  of  these  molds. 

In  our  experiments  with  the  fungus  mentioned  in  this  paper  as 
Mfucor  racemosus  we  have  found  that  such  locusts  as  have  been  dipped 
or  sprinkled  with  sugar- water  cultures  of  it  are  killed:  but  when 
turned  loose  in  the  field  there  is  no  apparent  spreading  of  the  fungus 
to  other  ?hoppers.  Neither  did  we  have  any  success  in  destroying 
them  when  the  inoculation  was  attempted  by  feeding  the  fungus  to  the 
insects  along  with  bread  crumbs,  etc.,  that  had  been  used  for  culture 
media.  It  is  surmised  that  by  thus  dipping  the  insects  into  the  liquid 
containing  the  fungus  some  of  the  mycelial  threads  and  spores  of 
the  latter  enter  the  stomata.  as  well  as  the  sutures  between  the  rings 
of  the  abdomen  and  thorax,  and  start  to  grow,  and  in  a  short  time  use 
up  the  fluids  and  vital  tissues  of  the  body  sufficiently  to  cause  death. 

Since  none  of  the  other  fungous  diseases  of  locusts,  aside  from  that 
caused  by  Empusa  grylM,  seem  to  have  received  much  attention 
heretofore,  it  has  been  thought  best  to  devote  some  space  to  their  dis- 
cussion here.  Especially  does  this  seem  warranted  because  of  the 
numerous  references  made  to  them  in  these  pages. 

SPOROTRICHUM  Sp. 

The  first  of  these  other  locust-attacking  fungi  that  deserves  mention 
was  discovered  by  the  writer  in  1897  while  investigating  the  destruc- 
tive locust  problem  of  Argentina.  South  America.  In  the  month  of 
June,  when  the  insect  then  under  investigation  was  hibernating,  or. 
more  correctly  speaking,  resting,  and  confined  chiefly  to  the  more 
northern  districts  of  that  country,  it  was  thought  best  to  occupy  the 
time  in  gathering  data  of  various  sorts.  It  was  on  one  of  the  field 
excursions  which  were  regularly  made  at  intervals,  as  this  work  was 
progressing,  that  dead  fungus-covered  nymphs  of  the  destructive 
locust  were  discovered  securely  tucked  away  in  dense  bunches  of  a 
species  of  grass  common  to  a  large  portion  of  the  open  country. 
These  dead  saltonas  (as  the  nymphs  of  these  insects  are  called  in  that 
country)  had  evidently  been  destroyed  by  the  fungus  in  large  numbers 
during  the  previous  year.  Still,  so  securely  were  they  tucked  away 
in  these  clumps  of  grass  that  fully  eight  months  later  the}'  not  only 
remained  nearly  perfect  in  form,  but  also  retained  their  colors  suffi- 
ciently to  make  their  identity  certain. 


58 


Having  bad  some  previous  experience  with  an  insect-destroying 
fungus  of  a  similar  appearance  in  the  destruction  of  quite  a  different 
insect  in  the  United  States,  a  preliminary  examination  of  these  fungus- 
cove4  red  locusts  at  once  suggested  a  Sporotrichuin.  But  in  order  to 
obtain  a  verification  of  this  surmise,  or  to  learn  definitely  the  nature 
of  the  tind,  specimens  of  the  dead  fungus-covered  insects  were  sub- 
mitted to  Prof.  C.  E.  Bessey,  of  the  University  of  Nebraska,  who 
reported  that  the  identification  was  correct.  Although  the  genus  to 
which  this  South  American  locust-killing  fungus  belongs  has  been 
definitely  settled,  various  unavoidable  circumstances  have  thus  far 
prevented  its  specific  identification. 

Locusts  that  have  been  attacked  by  this  South  American  fungus, 
instead  of  climbing  to  the  top  of  various  plants  so  as  to  get  as  much 
air  and  light  as  possible,  creep  away  from  the  light  and  seek  dark, 
moist  places  in  which  to  die.  Consequently  they  are  most  often  found 
hidden  away  near  the  roots  of  bunch  grasses,  in  the  midst  of  dense, 
juicy  foliage.  Here,  after  death,  their  bodies  become  entirely  filled 
w7ith  mycelial  threads  and  spores  of  the  fungus.  In  many  cases, 
under  certain  conditions,  the  fungus  growth  also  appears  upon  the 
outside  and  almost  completely  covers  the  dead  body  of  the  insect. 

Some  breeding-cage  experiments  attempted  later  in  the  year  indi- 
cated that  the  fungus  could  be  quite  readilv  transmitted  from  these 
dead  fungus-covered  saltonas  to  live,  healthy  locusts  of  the  same 
species.  While  out  in  the  open  "camp,"  the  invading  swarms  soon 
began  dying  in  rather  large  numbers  in  the  vicinity  wThere  the  fungus 
had  first  been  discovered.  On  gathering  the  dead  bodies  of  these  latter 
and  pulverizing  them,  and  afterwards  strewing  this  powder  upon  others 
along  with  their  food,  the  result  was  that  they  too  were  found  to  sicken 
and  die. 

The  action  of  this  fungus  upon  the  host  is  similar  to  that  of  Spcro- 
trichum  gTobuliferum  on  the  chinch  bug.  At  first  the  victim  becomes 
restless,  ceases  feeding,  and  begins  to  wander  aimlessly  about,  and, 
shortly  before  death,  it  seeks  a  secluded  spot  in  some  dark  nook  upon 
or  near  the  ground.  Quite  frequently,  after  a  passing  flight  of  an 
infected  swarm,  the  ground  was  found  to  be  strewn  with  the  dead 
bodies  of  such  insects  as  had  succumbed  to  the  disease.  These  soon 
turned  bright  pink  in  color,  and  where  %hey  failed  to  reach  a  suffi- 
ciently moist  and  shad}T  place  shortly  became  quite  hard  and  leathery 
in  texture  instead  of  rotting  and  breaking  into  fragments,  as  is  custom- 
ary with  dead  insects  of  this  class.  Also  at  the  '  roosting  places"  of 
such  swarms  many  of  these  pinkish-colored  locusts  were  found  upon 
the  ground,  having  succumbed  and  dropped  during  the  night.  Some 
of  these  latter,  although  w  inged,  have  been  known  later  to  exhibit  the 
characteristics  of  those  shown  in  the  illustration  already  referred  to. 

During  the  period  in  which  this  fungus  was  epidemic  among  the 


59 


locusts  iii  the  southern  portion  of  Santa  Fe,  and  while  under  the  obser- 
vation of  the  writer,  only  four  distinct  species  of  locusts  were  found 
that  had  died  as  the  result  of  its  attack.  These  were  the  large  migra- 
tory species  of  Argentina  and  the  neighboring  countries,  Schistocerca 
paranensis  Burm. ,  Zon  iopoda  tarsata  Serv. ,  Dipdnth  us  communis  Brun. , 
and  Dichroplus  elongatus  Giglio-Tos.  It  might  be  of  interest,  however, 
to  know  that  each  of  these,  aside  from  the  paranensis,  becomes  locally 
destructive  at  times.  This  fungus,  like  Empusa,  flourishes  best  during 
warm,  humid  weather. 

Having  obtained  such  satisfactory  results  in  transmitting  this  disease 
to  other  locusts  while  conducting  experiments  in  Argentina,  a  quantity 
of  dead  fungus-covered  insects,  like  those  described  above,  were 
gathered  and  brought  back  to  the  United  States  for  use  in  attempting 
to  destroy  our  North  American  species.  Accordingly,  in  July  and 
August,  1898,  large  numbers  of  several  of  our  most  common  Melanopli 
were  gathered  and  placed  in  breeding  cages  along  with  a  goodly  supply 
of  green  food  and  the  bodies  of  the  dead  fungus-covered  insects.  The 
powdered  bodies  of  such  dead  locusts  were  also  strewn  over  the  food 
and  moistened  earth  at  the  bottom  of  the  cages.  In  addition  to  these, 
similar  experiments  were  attempted  in  fields  where  our  native  locusts 
were  exceedingly  numerous,  but  in  all  cases  these  experiments  failed 
to  show  a  single  instance  of  the  possible  transmission  of  the  fungus  to 
our  native  species. 

More  recent  attempts  at  obtaining  an  artificial  growth  of  this  South 
American  locust-killing  fungus  on  various  media  in  the  laboratory 
have  likewise  proved  utter  failures,  the  reason  for  this  being,  no  doubt, 
the  great  age  of  the  material  at  hand. 

Notwithstanding  the  failures  in  the  experiments  just  recorded,  this, 
in  the  opinion  of  the  writer,  is  one  of  the  most  promising  locust- 
attacking  fungi,  since  it  was  found  to  withstand  considerable  variation 
in  climate  and  to  attack  at  least  four  widely  different  insects.  Then, 
too,  its  close  relationship  with  the  so-called  chinch-bug  fungus  (Spo- 
rotrichvmi  globuliferuui)  gives  us  some  reason  for  encouragement  in 
the  future. 

On  July  IT,  1900,  a  letter  was  received  from  Mr.  George  W.  Martin, 
Sterling,  Colo. ,  who  had  undertaken  some  experiments  with  the  South 
African  locust  fungus,  a  supply  of  which  was  furnished  him  from 
Washington.    This  letter  reads  as  follows: 

Dear  Sir:  I  have  succeeded  in  killing  a  large  number  of  grasshoppers  on  60  acres 
of  alfalfa,  covering  the  ground  with  them  for  one-fourth  mile.  The  disease  is  still 
spreading  and  is  now  500  yards  from  where  the  infected  ones  were  placed.  I  do  not 
see  why  it  will  not  kill  all  of  them.  I  use  corn  meal,  2  parts  sugar,  1  part,  for  dose, 
feeding  at  4  p.  m.,  again  6  p.  m.,  putting  them  out  at  7.  1  drive  over  the  fields  to  be 
infected.  The  fungus  seems  to  be  better  a  week  old  than  earlier. 
Yours,  truly, 

George  W.  Martin. 


GO 


A  visit  to  the  locality,  as  already  stated,  revealed  the  fact  that 
although  several  species  of  native  locusts  were  dying  in  large  numbers, 
yet,  contrary  to  the  rule  with  insects  that  had  been  attacked  by  Empusa, 
these  Colorado  'hoppers  all  fell  to  the  ground  instead  of  remaining 
fastened  to  the  vegetation.  About  the  same  time,  and  also  somewhat 
later  in  the  season,  other  reports  were  received  of  similar  epidemics 
occurring  among  the  grasshoppers  in  localities  where  no  infection  of 
any  kind  had  been  distributed.  This  year  again  other  reports  of 
similar  epidemics  occurring  among  these  insects  were  received  here  at 
the  University  of  Nebraska.  One  of  these  was  so  remarkable  in  nature 
that  a  representative  of  the  experiment  station  visited  the  locality  to 
make  an  investigation.  He  was  also  requested  to  secure  specimens  of 
the  dead  and  dying  insects  so  as  to  ascertain,  if  possible,  the  cause  of 
the  epidemic.  Other  material  was  received  at  the  station  from  corre- 
spondents, and  from  both  of  these  lots  of  dead  insects  there  was 
obtained,  among  other  things  (as  Spirillum  and  Bacterium),  a  Sporo- 
trichum,  the  specific  identification  of  which  was  not  ascertained  at  the 
time,  as  the  botanists  were  then  all  away  on  their  summer  vacations. 
Since  their  return  school  duties  have  prevented  their  giving  the  neces- 
sary time  to  the  matter,  hence  we  can  only  suggest  that  this  may  be  a 
second  species  of  the  genus  which  attacks  locusts. 

While  most  of  these  local  outbreaks  among  our  native  locusts  occur 
in  moist  localities,  such  as  irrigated  fields  and  bottom  lands,  the  one 
near  Ogallala,  Nebr. ,  was  in  a  field  which  irrigation  did  not  reach,  and 
came  at  a  time  when  little  or  no  rain  had  fallen  for  several  weeks. 
The  species  of  locusts  found  generally  among  the  dead  were  Melano- 
plus  differential!*.  M.  Mvittatus,  M.  atlanis,  M.  femur-rvbrum,  M. 
packardii,  Sphwagem-on  collare,  Brachystola  magna,  and  Dissosteira 
Carolina;  these  were  numerous  in  the  order  named;  a  very  encourag- 
ing record  when  we  take  into  consideration  the  differences  in  the 
habits  and  structure  of  these  insects.  All  the  occurrences  of  this 
last-named  disease  were  in  fields  of  alfalfa. 

The  isolation  of  this  fungus  came  so  late  in  the  year,  and  at  a  time 
when  other  matters  were  so  pressing,  that  further  work  with  it  was,  for 
the  time  being,  impracticable.  It  is  impossible,  therefore,  to  predict 
its  probable  future  value  as  an  artificial  factor  in  the  control  of  the 
locust  pest  in  the  region  where  it  was  found. 

The  Sjjorotrichum  globiiliferum  is  reported  as  having  been  success- 
fully used  against  the  different  species  of  destructive  locusts  in  Algeria 
during  1899,  but  whether  the  identification  of  the  fungus  concerned  is 
reliable  is  not  known. 

CONCLUSIONS. 

After  having  spent  considerable  time  in  experimenting  under  vari- 
ous conditions  and  in  different  regions,  as  well  as  in  the  study  of  the 
researches  carried  on  by  others,  it  is  the  opinion  of  the  writer  that 


61 


the  utility  of  fungus  diseases  in  killing  off  insect  pests  is  greatly  over- 
estimated. Especially  is  this  true  with  reference  to  their  use  against 
destructive  locusts.  The  chief  objections  are  the  difficulties  with 
which  pure  cultures  are  obtained  and  later  transmitted  to  the  insects  to 
be  destroyed,  and  the  frequent  adverse  influence  of  climatic  conditions. 

Much  of  this  false  notion  as  to  the  absolute  effectiveness  of  inocula- 
tion as  a  cure-all.  which  has  gained  a  firm  lodgement  in  the  minds  of  so 
many  people  throughout  the  land,  is,  no  doubt,  due  to  the  careless 
way  in  which  agricultural  and  other  newspapers  of  the  country  make 
definite  statements  on  incomplete  information.  Then.  too.  very  fre- 
quently contributors  to  such  papers  write  concerning  matters  they 
know  little  or  nothing  about.  This  sort  of  business  on  the  part  of  the 
press  certainly  places  the  economic  entomologist  in  a  peculiar  posi- 
tion since  it  creates  a  misunderstanding  between  him  and  the  people 
in  whose  interest  he  is  supposed  to  labor. 

Were  the  writer  required  to  give  his  opinion  as  to  which  of  these 
different  fungi  seems  the  most  promising,  he  would,  without  hesita- 
tion, say.  "The  native  one.**  He  would  say  this,  because  the  impor- 
tation of  these  locust-killing  fungi  from  one  country  into  another 
depends  greatly  on  the  similarity  which  exists  in  the  climatic  condi- 
tions of  the  countries  concerned,  in  the  relationship  of  hosts  to  be 
considered,  and  in  the  ease  with  which  the  fungi  can  be  handled  in 
the  laboratory.  Between  the  Empusse  and  Sporotricha  the  latter 
seem  the  more  preferable,  because  they  are  more  readily  handled  arti- 
ficially, growing,  as  they  do.  quite  readily  on  different  culture  media. 

THE  CONFLICT  OF  THE  RUSSIAN  ZYEMSTVOS "  WITH  THE 
ENEMIES  OF  AGRICULTURE.6 

By  V.  Morachevski. 
[Abstract  by  Dr.  Peter  Fireman.] 

Not  the  measures  employed  by  the  individual  farmer  in  his  fight 
against  the  animals  and  insects  injurious  to  agriculture  are  described 
in  the  present  article,  but  those  adopted  by  the  local  self-government 
organs  in  Eussia. 

Grasshoppers  ( AcfiEDinxfi) . 

(a)  PachytyJus  migrator! us.  It  is  at  present  accepted  as  proved  that 
the  islands  of  some  rivers  (Ural.  Volga.  Kuma.  Kuban.  Terek.  Manich, 
Egorlik,  Don,  Dnieper.  Danube,  and  Sarpa)  serve  as  nurseries  for  this 
insect.    Such  islands  furnish  an  enormous  store  of  food  for  grasshop- 

«Zyenistvo — A  governmental  body  in  Russian  provinces  and  local  districts,  elected 
by  the  people.    It  consists  in  each  case  of  a  council  and  an  executive  board. 

&(Syelskoye  Khozyaistvo  e  Lyesovodstvo  (Agriculture  and  Forestry),  vol.  193, 
1899,  April,  pp.  183-208;  vol.  194,  1899,  August,  pp.  193-226,  September,  pp.  445-454. ) 


62 


pers,  sufficient  in  the  great  majority  of  cases  to  maintain  them  from 
the  time  of  their  hatching  to  their  death.  Moreover,  on  these  islands 
they  are  safe  from  their  natural  enemies.  Therefore,  the  investigators 
of  the  grasshoppers,  as  well  as  some  of  the  zyemstvos,  have  arrived  at 
the  conclusion  that  radical  measures  for  preventing  the  calamities 
caused  by  the  incursions  of  these  insects  must  be  directed  not  so  much 
toward  the  destruction  of  the  insects  as  toward  the  conversion  of  these 
islands  into  cultivated  lands. 

In  the  appearance  of  the  grasshoppers  in  enormous  numbers  some 
periodicity  has  long  been  observed. 

In  the  Taurida  government  some  of  the  zyemstvos  took  up  the  com- 
bat against  the  grasshoppers  in  1877.  The  rules  which  are  at  present 
obligatory  in  the  contest  in  the  whole  province  were  elaborated  by  the 
provincial  zyemstvo  and  confirmed  by  the  Minister  of  the  Interior. 
The  work  is  paid  for  according  to  a  scale  fixed  by  the  district  zyem- 
stvos. For  the  performance  of  the  work  all  persons  of  the  lower 
classes  are  required  to  present  themselves  (peasants,  workingmen,  and 
the  like,  not  excluding  the  women  and  children  above  10  }^ears  of  age). 
Each  relay  of  workmen  can  be  held  not  longer  than  three  da}rs.  The 
council  of  the  district  zyemstvo  elects  special  organizers  for  stated  sec- 
tions of  the  district,  whose  duty  it  is  to  watch  the  appearance  of  the 
grasshoppers  in  the  district,  to  study  the  extent  of  the  area  infested 
with  the  eggs  of  the  grasshoppers,  to  keep  the  district  as  well  as  the 
provincial  zyemstvo  informed  about  their  observations  in  this  regard, 
and  to  personally  participate  and  superintend  the  work  of  destroying 
the  insects.  In  1896  there  were  17  such  organizers  in  the  Simpheropol 
district,  with  a  compensation  of  3  rubles  per  day  during  the  time  of 
fighting  the  grasshoppers. 

The  Bessarabia  government  began  the  contest  in  1876  and  stopped 
it  in  1887,  since  when  the  grasshoppers  have  not  appeared. 

In  the  Kherson  government  the  provincial  zyemstvo  conducts  the 
fighc  against  these  insects  as  well  as  against  others,  and  sussliks 
(Spermophilus  citillus),  covering  the  expense  by  collecting  a  tax  of 
one-half  cent  per  dyessyatina  (2.7  acres). 

In  the  Voronyezh  government  the  provincial  zyemstvo  in  1882,  in 
view  of  the  fact  that  the  grasshoppers  deposited  their  eggs  in  the 
autumn  over  an  extended  area,  especialhT  in  the  Novo-Khopyor  district, 
petitioned  the  Imperial  Government  to  defray  the  expenses  of  fighting 
the  grasshoppers  from  the  general  funds  of  the  Empire,  to  appropriate 
for  this  purpose  1,000,000  rubles,  and  to  impose  a  natural  tax.  Mean- 
while the  Novo-Khopyor  district  zyemstvo  was  directed  to  urge  the 
land  owners  to  plow  up  those  places  where  the  eggs  were  deposited. 
The  Minister  of  the  Interior,  however,  refused  to  grant  to  the  pro- 
vincial zyemstvo  the  subsidy  of  the  Imperial  Government,  but  agreed 
to  loan  that  sum  to  the  zyemstvo.    In  1883  the  grasshoppers  made 


63 


their  appearance  in  the  spring-.  They  were  combated  very  energet- 
ically, with  the  cooperation  of  the  police,  local  population,  and  six 
battalions  of  soldiers.  At  an  expense  of  52,000  rubles  the  zyemstvo 
destroyed  completely  the  grasshoppers  in  the  province. 

In  the  Orvol  government  all  the  work  directed  to  the  destruction  of 
the  grasshoppers  is  divided  between  the  provincial  zyemstvo  and  the 
district  zyemstvos,  the  duty  of  the  former  being  the  ascertainment  of 
the  places  infested  with  the  eggs  of  the  insects,  the  instruction  of  the 
population  in  the  methods  of  combating  them,  and  a  general  super- 
vision over  the  carrying  out  of  all  the  operations,  while  the  duty  of 
the  distric  zyemstvos  is  the  immediate  execution  of  those  operations. 

The  Tambov  government  in  1893  petitioned  the  imperial  administra- 
tion to  consider  the  destroying  of  the  grasshoppers  as  a  duty  of  the 
whole  nation.  The  minister  of  the  interior  replied  that  similar  peti- 
tions were  received  repeatedly  from  zyemstvos,  but  were  invariably 
declined  by  the  minister  of  the  interior,  with  the  concurrence  of  the 
ministry  of  finance,  on  the  ground  that,  according  to  the  existing 
laws,  measures  for  the  destruction  of  the  injurious  insects  are  incum- 
bent upon  the  zyemstvos.  The  executive  board  of  the  provincial 
z}Temstvo  then  organized  the  fight  against  the  grasshoppers,  a  fund  of 
100,000  rubles  being  appropriated  by  the  zyemstvo.  The  wages  were 
fixed  as  follows:  To  a  workingman  with  a  horse,  12£  cents  a  day;,  to 
one  without  a  horse,  5  cents  a  day;  for  36  pounds  of  grasshoppers 
collected,  12£  cents. 

The  zyemstvos  of  the  Ekaterinoslav,  Chernigov,  Kursk,  Ryazan, 
Samara,  and  Penza  governments  had  also  to  fight  grasshoppers,  which 
they  did  more  or  less  successfully . 

(b)  Caloptenus  italicus  (Italian  grasshopper). — This  insect  appears  in 
some  places  in  enormous  quantities.  In  three  districts  of  the  Sara- 
tov government  the  peasants  destroyed  in  one  season  36,000  poods 
(1  pood  =  36  pounds);  on  one  estate  alone  during  five  weeks  15,000 
poods  were  collected;  in  the  Bobrov  district  40,000  poods  were 
destroyed. 

In  1897  the  following  regulations  were  adopted  by  the  Bessarabia 
government,  with  the  approval  of  the  imperial  administration:  A 
natural  tax  and  a  money  tax  are  fixed.  The  natural  tax  is  imposed  on 
persons  belonging  to  the  lower  classes  (peasants,  workingmen,  etc.),  not 
excluding  women  and  children;  all  these  persons  must  do  the  work  of 
destroying  the  Italian  grasshoppers,  without  compensation,  within  a 
radius  of  7  versts  (1  verst  =  f  mile);  if  called  to  more  remote  places 
they  receive  a  certain  compensation  fixed  by  the  provincial  zyemstvo; 
each  relay  of  workingmen  can  not  be  held  longer  than  three  days. 
The  money  tax  is  imposed  upon  all  the  landowners  who  are  not 
subject  to  the  natural  tax.  The  money  so  collected  goes  to  cover  the 
expenses  incurred  in  fighting  the  grasshoppers,  in  payment  to  the 


64 


owners  for  their  crops  destroyed,  in  payment  of  the  workers  who 
came  from  places  farther  than  7  versts,  etc.  For  the  crops  destroyed 
while  fighting  the  insects  the  owners  are  reimbursed  to  the  amount  of 
the  value  of  the  seeds,  the  cost  of  cultivation,  and  the  rent  for  the 
land. 

In  the  Orgueyeev  district,  over  an  area  of  2,000,000  acres,  the  fight 
against  the  Italian  grasshoppers  in  1897  required  more  than  26,000 
adult  workers,  20,000  boys,  and  over  2,000  wagons. 

In  the  Kherson  government  the  Odessa  district  zyemstvo  spent  in 
lighting  the  Italian  grasshoppers  in  1895,  4,000  rubles;  in  1896,  20,000 
rubles  (paying  to  the  workingmen  25  cents  per  day,  young  lads  12£ 
cents,  to  children  6i  cents,  and  for  man  and  wagon  50  cents,  and  12J 
cents,  besides,  for  each  pood  of  grasshoppers  killed  and  collected);  and 
in  1897,  9,500  rubles. 

In  the  Taurida  government  the  Dnieper  district  z}Temstvo  reports 
that  the  lighting  of  the  grasshoppers  pursued  by  it  at  a  great  outlay  of 
money  during  three  years  is  quite  successful,  as  witnessed,  among  other 
things,  by  the  considerable  falling  off  of  the  expenses:  The  expendi- 
tures in  1894  were  37,000  rubles;  in  1895,  9,000  rubles;  and  in  1896, 
only  2,760  rubles. 

The  Kursk,  Ryazan,  Voronezh,  and  Saratov  governments  light  the 
Italian  grasshoppers  by  similar  methods. 

(c)  Gomphocerus  sibiricus,  Stenobothrus  degans,  Stenobotlirus  mela 
nopterus,  PsopTius  stridulus,  Bryodema  tuberculata,  Staaronotus  cruci- 
atus  or  Stethophyma  jlavicosta,  Stethophyma  fuscum,  and  Pezotettix 
pedestris. — These  do  much  damage,  chiefly  in  the  east  of  European 
Russia,  in  the  Ural  region,  and  in  western  Siberia. 

The  z}Temstvos  of  the  Ufa,  V}Tatka,  Perm,  Nizhni  Novgorod,  and 
Kostroma  governments  conduct  the  fight  against  these  insects  on  lines 
similar  to  those  described  with  regard  to  the  grasshoppers. 

MEANS  OF  COMBATTING  THE  GRASSHOPPERS. 

(1)  Shallow  replowing  or  harrowing  in  the  autumn  of  those  places 
which  are  infested  with  the  eggs  of  the  grasshoppers,  etc.,  is  one  of 
the  best  and  most  effective  measures.  By  shallow  plowing,  2  to  2£ 
inches  deep,  the  eggs  are  turned  out  to  the  surface  of  the  ground  and 
perish,  partly  from  atmospheric  conditions  and  partly  from  birds. 

(2)  Burning  up  by  means  of  straw  is  practiced  with  great  success  to 
the  destruction  of  the  larvae  of  the  grasshoppers.  The  straw  is  usually 
piled  up  in  the  field  in  a  few  places;  the  larvae  gather  to  these  piles 
toward  evening  in  large  numbers  in  search  of  drier  places;  the  straw 
is  then  ignited  simultaneously  from  all  sides.  In  extreme  cases,  when 
it  is  too  late  to  drive  out  the  insects  from  among  the  crops,  the  crops 
themselves  are  burned  up.    For  cereals  thus  destroyed  the  owners 


65 


receive  from  the  zyemstvos  an  indemnity,  which  is  usually  somewhat 
less  than  the  real  value  of  the  burned  crop. 

(3)  The  larvae  are  sometimes  destroyed  by  crushing  with  shovels, 
rolls,  bundles  of  brushwood,  etc.  The  brushwood  drags  give  the  best 
results.  The  laborers  surround  a  certain  section  and  drive  the  insects 
toward  the  center.  When  the  circle  becomes  small  a  few  brushwood 
drags  are  drawn  along  the  circumference  of  the  circle,  describing 
circles  of  smaller  and  smaller  diameter  each  time. 

(4)  The  driving  of  the  larvae  into  ditches  and  destroying  them  there 
by  crushing  or  burning  is  not  effective  in  the  case  of  adult  insects  or 
loo  young  larvae  (the  latter  remaining  immovable  when  the  attempt  is 
made  to  frighten  them  up  by  brooms,  etc.).  Protective  ditches  used 
for  preventing  the  insects  from  passing  over  into  the  unattacked  fields 
must  be  deep  and  well  guarded  to  be  effective. 

(5)  Collecting  by  means  of  bags,  sheets,  etc..  is  also  much  practiced. 
Certain  trap  bags  have  been  invented  and  are  very  effective. 

(6)  Some  apparently  successful  experiments  were  also  made  in 
destroying  the  insects  by  infecting  them  with  the  fungus  Em/pv&a 
grylli. 

OTHER  INJURIOUS  INSECTS. 

The  zyemstvos  have  so  far  confined  themselves  principally  to  the 
combating  of  the  sussliks  and  of  the  grasshoppers  (including  in  the 
latter  a  number  of  allied  insects),  not  taking  up  at  all  the  contest  against 
other  insects  equally  injurious  to  agriculture,  or  taking  it  up  only  now 
and  then,  without  regularity  or  system,  in  years  of  very  great  ravages. 

(a)  Agrotis  segetum  and  Agrotis  eavlamationds  are  the  most  danger- 
ous and  most  common  enemies  of  the  winter  cereals.  Their  caterpillars 
are  usually  called  (in  Russia)  the  winter  worms.  Against  these  insects 
a  fight  is  conducted  only  by  the  zyemstvos  of  some  northeastern  gov- 
ernments— Kostroma,  Perm,  Kazan,  and  others.  Only  the  provincial 
zyemstvo  of  the  Kostroma  government  has  imposed  a  natural  tax.  In 
this  government  peasants  have  to  appear  Avith  plows,  brooms,  and 
shovels  for  two  days:  within  a  radius  of  7  versts  they  get  no  remunera- 
tion, but  beyond  that  distance  a  certain  daily  wage. 

(h)  Anisoplia  austriaca  (grain  beetle). — The  Imperial  Government 
proposed  in  1879  to  all  the  southern  zyemstvos  to  hold  an  extraordinary 
meeting  in  order  to  discuss  the  question  of  the  grain  beetle.  All  the 
lyemstvos  (viz,  of  the  Kherson,  Poltava,  Bessarabia,  Taurida,  and 
Kharkov  governments,  and  also  the  Don  z^^emstvo)  gave  their  opinions 
in  favor  of  the  mechanical  methods  of  fighting  the  beetle,  and  peti- 
tioned the  Imperial  Government  to  prohibit  the  use  of  ropes  and  to 
declare  the  measures  obligatory  for  all  the  southern  governments. 
The  Imperial  Government  granted  the  petition,  making  the  following 
tax.  as  a  temporary  measure,  obligatory  for  the  enumerated  govern- 

3622— No  38—04  5 


66 


merits  during  a  period  of  two  years:  Persons  of  the  lower  classes  must 
appear  for  three  days'  work  without  compensation  at  a  distance  of  7 
srersts  and  with  compensation  at  a  greater  distance,  not  exceeding  20 
versts;  upon  persons  of  the  higher  classes,  on  the  other  hand,  a  mone}T 
tax  is  Levied,  the  amount  of  the  imposition  per  dyessyatina  (2.7  acres) 
depending  on  the  value  of  the  work  performed  by  the  persons  of  the 
lower  classes.  The  use  of  the  rope  was  prohibited  by  the  same  law. 
After  the  lapse  of  two  years  the  law  was  not  renew ed,  each  govern- 
ment conducting  the  contest  according  to  its  discretion.  The  Taurida 
and  Ekatcrinoslav  governments  leave  the  fight  of  the  weevil  to  the 
population,  and  allow  the  use  of  the  rope.  The  Kharkov  government 
has  imposed  a  tax  of  1  garnts  (2.88  quarts)  of  weevils  from  each  dyes- 
syatina (2.7  acres)  under  rye,  wheat,  and  barley;  for  each  garnts  not 
presented  a  fine  of  12J  cents  is  imposed. 

The  means  of  fighting  the  weevil  emplo\Ted  by  the  zyemstvos  are 
almost  all  mechanical:  (a)  Collecting  the  weevil  with  the  hands  or  with 
specially  designed  machines,  and  (b)  frightening  off  the  weevils  by 
means  of  a  rope. 

(c)  Ceddomyia  destructor  Say. — The  only  measure  enforced  by  the 
zyemstvos  in  fighting  the  Hessian  fly  consists  in  not  allowing  the  early 
sowing  of  winter  crops. 

THE  TOBACCO  STALK  WEEVIL. 

( Trichobaris  mucorea  Lec. ) 
By  F.  H.  Chittenden. 

In  a  consideration  of  the  potato  stalk  weevil,  Trichobaris  trinotata 
Say.,  which  was  treated  somewhat  in  detail  in  Bulletin  No.  33.  new 
series  (pp.  9-18).  it  was  remarked,  in  defining  the  food  habits  of  this 
species,  that  tobacco  and  tomato  appeared  to  be  exempt  from  its 
ravages,  although  nearly  all  other  Solanacea?  growing  within  its  range 
were  attacked.  Before  the  bulletin  in  question  had  appeared  in  print 
we  received  a  communication  from  Mr.  Lawson  H.  Shelfer,  tobacco 
expert  of  the  Bureau  of  Soils,  and  located  at  Willis,  Tex. ,  that  a  related 
species  of  weevil  was  greatly  injuring  tobacco  in  that  section.  Our 
correspondent  first  wrote  in  regard  to  this  species,  transmitting  adults, 
and  in  the  following  months  sent  much  material  and  many  valuable 
notes  on  the  habits  of  this  insect  and  the  nature  of  its  ravages.  The 
remarks  which  follow,  on  the  insect's  life  history  and  habits,  are 
based  mainly  upon  Mr.  Shelf er's  letters  and  the  material  received 
from  him. 

The  larva  of  this  species  also,  as  might  be  expected  from  its  close 
relationship  to  the  potato  stalk  weevil,  inhabits  the  stalk  of  tobacco 
and  also  the  main  ribs  of  leaves,  sometimes  completely  severing  them 
or  injuring  them  so  badly  that  the  winds  which  blow  almost  constantly 
in  that  region  break  them  off  and  thus  greatly  weaken  the  plant. 


67 


This  weevil  first  appeared,  according  to  the  testimony  of  residents 
of  that  vicinity,  in  1898,  and  has  become  more  numerous  each  year. 
At  the  date  of  first  writing,  May  20,  from  2  to  6  beetles  were  found 
on  single  plants,  frequently  in  pairs.  It  was  concluded,  as  a  result  of 
conversation  with  many  local  growers,  that  the  tobacco  crop  had  been 
attacked  even  earlier  than  the  specified  date,  but  the  cause  was  not 
iefinitely  known. 

May  28  some  tobacco  plants  showing  infestation  were  sent  to  this 
office.  It  was  discovered  a  few  days  before  this  time  that  nearly 
every  plant  in  a  four-acre  field  was  affected.  In  some  neighboring 
fields  it  was  impossible  to  find  a  stalk  that  did  not  contain  one  or 
more  larva?,  but  all  fields  were  not  so  badly  affected. 

The  larva  is  locally  known  as  ^  pith  worm."  from  its  habit  of  boring 
through  the  length  of  plants. 

The  beetles  were  also  stated  to  be  doing  great  damage  to  tobacco. 

June  1'2  Mr.  Shelter  stated  that  the  beetles  were  still  cutting  the 
leaves  and  depositing  eggs.  Owing  to  the  fact  that  twenty-six  days 
had  elapsed  at  that  time  since  rain  had  fallen  and  many  nights  were 
without  dew,  the  tobacco  crop  suffered  much,  and  more  especially 
when  this  insect  was  at  work  in  the  stalks.  During  the  last  week  of 
June  and  first  of  July  we  received  considerable  material  from  our  cor- 
respondent, the  insect  being  present  in  the  three  stages  of  larva,  pupa, 
and  adult  at  this  time.  In  some  stalks  the  pupal  cell  was  constructed 
4:  inches  from  the  root  system,  while  in  others  on  a  level  with  the 
surface  of  the  ground.  It  is  evident  that  in  tobacco  this  insect  works 
in  a  different  manner  from  that  which  it  employs  in  other  plants  which 
it  may  infest,  the  reason  being  the  very  woody  condition  of  the  lower 
portions  of  the  stalks.  It  is  evident  also  that  the  larvae,  after  attain- 
ing maturity  or  thereabouts,  turn  and  bore  upward  for  the  construc- 
tion of  their  transformation  cells.  The  lowest  individuals  will  mature 
first,  and  those  which  form  their  cells  higher  will  mature  much  later. 
As  a  consequence  there  will  be  intervals  of  a  week  or  more  between 
the  time  of  their  transformation.  Thus  it  happens  that  the  older 
individuals  must  wait  for  the  younger  ones  to  make  their  exit,  since 
there  is  hardly  space  for  the  former  to  pass  the  latter.  Some  of  the 
insects  penetrate  to  the  very  tops  of  the  stalks. 

Jamestown  weed,  which  we  have  record  of  this  insect  attacking,  was 
a  comparative  rarity  in  that  section  of  Texas,  and  no  other  solanaceous 
plants  could  be  found  growing  wild  within  half  a  mile  of  the  infested 
fields.  At  other  points  (Liberty  and  AVoodville.  Tex.)  this  weed  was 
found,  but  no  weevils,  this  verifying  an  opinion  hazarded  by  the  writer 
that  the  insect  was  local  as  well  as  periodical  as  regards  injuries. 

Mr.  J.  A.  Blohm,  of  Willis,  verified  Mr.  Shelter's  account  as  to 
injuries  of  this  stalk  weevil,  his  experience  practically  duplicating  that 
of  our  correspondent  in  most  essential  particulars. 

Attack  was  at  first  attributed  to  improper  farming. 


68 


September  5,  1902,  Mr.  Shelfer  called  at  this  office  and  furnished 
the  writer  w  ith  some  additional  information  on  the  insect's  occurrence 
and  life  history.  Tobacco  was  first  set  out  April  8,  and  the  beetles 
were  observed  at  work  the  following  day,  as  a  rule  in  pairs,  attacking 
the  leaves,  which  soon  after  attack  began  to  droop.  After  the  mid- 
ribs had  been  eaten  for  some  time  the  leaves  curled  over,  and  under 
this  protection  the  beetles  congregated  for  feeding.  The  beetles,  as 
well  as  larvae,  were  still  in  the  field  the  first  week  in  September. 

DESCRIPTIVE. 

The  tobacco-destroying  species  of  weevil,  Trichoharis  mucorea  Lee, 
may  be  readily  separated  from  the  potato  species,  T.  trinotata  Say,  by 
its  much  larger  size.  The  former  will  average  one-fourth  of  an  inch 
or  a  little  longer  (5-6mm),  Avhile  the  latter  does  not  exceed  three- 
sixteenths  of  an  inch,  averaging  about  one-sixth  inch  or  a  little  smaller 
(3-4.5mm).  The  tobacco  species  is,  moreover,  a  little  more  robust  and 
of  more  uniform  size,  and  is  distinguished,  according  to  Casey,  "by 
its  rather  depressed  upper  surface  and  the  subdentate  area  at  the 
sides  of  the  prothorax  beneath."  Also  by  the  "pronotum  densely 
and  confluently  punctate,  sometimes  longitudinally  rugose,  the  sides 
more  or  less  feebly  sinuate  just  behind  apical  third;  antennal  club 
more  slender  and  elongate,  less  abrupt,  the  outer  funicular  joints 
more  transverse;  pronotum  with  a  narrow  impunctate  median  carina." 

•In  T.  tr!n of <if a  the  pronotum  is  simply  punctate  and  without  an 
impunctate  and  subcarinate  median  line,  as  in  mucorea,  and  the  anten- 
nal club  is  robust  and  abrupt.  In  a  large  series  of  specimens,  such  as 
the  writer  has  at  the  present  writing,  it  is  seen  that  there  is  also  a 
difference  in  color.  All  of  the  specimens  of  trinotata  are  darker,  the 
pubescence  being  darker  gra}T  than  in  mucorea.  There  is  no  observa- 
ble difference  in  specimens  collected  in  the  field  and  those  taken  from 
the  stalks  of  eggplant  the  first  week  of  September.  In  hibernated 
individuals  of  mucorea  the  scales  are  very  pale,  nearly  white,  while  in 
those  which  have  recently  issued  from  stalks  they  are  dull,  some- 
what yellowish  brown/'  In  all  specimens  of  mucorea  there  is  an  api- 
cal line  of  yellowish  pubescence  on  the  thorax,  forming  a  collar  above 
the  head.  This  collar  is  scarcely  at  all  indicated  in  trinotata,  and  the 
color  of  the  scales  here  is  of  the  same  uniform  gray  as  of  the  entire 
upper  surface. 

INJURY  IN  FLORIDA  BY  A  RELATED  SPECIES. 

July  14, 1902,  Mr.  William  M.  Cony,  Quincy,  Fla.,  wrote,  in  response 
to  inquiry,  that  at  various  times  in  previous  }^ears — though  not  in 


"  This  difference  in  coloration  has  been  noted  in  another  species  of  scale-covered 
weevil,  Ceutorhynchus  rapse  Say,  Bui.  23,  n.  s.,  p.  43. 


69 


1902 — he  had  observed  affected  stalks  in  fields  of  tobacco  there,  and 
when  the  leaves  were  broken  off  it  was  found  that  a  hole  was  in  the 
center,  caused  by  a  small  insect  known  there  as  "the  borer."  The 
insect  seemed  to  start  at  the  root  and  make  its  way  gradually  up  into 
the  heart  of  the  stalk,  its  presence  being  indicated  by  the  leaves 
dropping-  and  the  stalk  gradually  withering  and  turning  yellow. 

There  can  be  no  reasonable  doubt  that  the  species  in  question  is 
Trichobaris  insolita  Casey,  a  species  rather  commonly  found  in  that 
portion  of  Florida. 

DISTRIBUTION. 

In  defining  the  distribution  of  the  potato  stalk  weevil  it  has  been 
said  that  that  species  was  rather  generally  distributed  throughout 
the  Carolinian  and  Austroriparian  regions,  and  that  it  was  found 
Westward  to  Texas.  Such  a  statement  has  previously  been  made  by 
Casey  and  probably  others,  and  it  may  be  that  the  insect  really  inhabits 
Texas,  but  in  a  series  of  ?A  specimens  at  present  available  Texas- 
labeled  individuals  are  not  in  evidence. 

Trichobaris  mucorea  is  represented  in  the  national  collection  and 
others  at  present  under  observation  by  upwards  of  50  individuals, 
from  which  the  following  locality  list  is  taken:  Columbus  and  Willis, 
Tex.;  Los  Angeles,  Kern  County,  and  elsewhere  in  California  (no 
definite  locality) ;  Tucson,  Galiuro  Mountains,  Santa  Rita  Mountains. 
Catalina  Springs,  and  Oracle,  Ariz.  LeConte  records  the  species  from 
Cape  San  Lucas,  Lower  California,  and  there  is  little  doubt  that  it 
occurs  elsewhere  in  Mexico.  The  type  specimen  was  found  near  Fort 
Yuma,  Cal.    (Proc.  Acad.  Nat.  Sciences,  Phila.,  1858,  p.  59.) 

METHODS  OF  CONTROL. 

In  spite  of  the  close  relationship  of  this  species  to  the  potato  stalk 
weevil,  it  is  very  evident  that  we  have  an  entirely  different  problem 
to  solve.  The  similarity  of  the  insects  is  structural.  The  habits  are 
materially  different;  for  whereas  the  potato  weevil  has  a  definite  time 
of  appearance  and  disappearance,  from  April  to  May,  and  again  the 
following  }rear  at  the  same  time,  we  see  no  more  of  the  insects  until 
after  they  have  laid  their  eggs  and  the  larvae  have  transformed  to 
pupae  and  thence  to  adults  in  the  stalks.  Here  they  remain  during 
the  winter.  The  tobacco  weevil,  on  the  contrary,  evidently  escapes 
from  the  stalks  after  the  tobacco  leaves  have  been  cut.  and  hibernate- 
in  other  places. 

Paris  green,  Mr.  Shelfer  has  observed,  applied  as  a  spray  by  means 
of  a  knapsack  outfit,  will  kill  the  beetles,  and  he  is  of  the  opinion,  in 
which  the  writer  concurs,  that  if  an  arsenical  is  used  at  interval-  during 
the  season  at  the  proper  time,  beginning  with  the  time  that  plants  are 
set  out,  the  insect  may  be  kept  under  control. 


70 


The  following  suggestions  for  another  season  are  made: 

Alter  the  leaves  are  cut  the  stalks  should  be  destroyed  as  promptly 
as  possible,  and  the  entire  fields  should  be  cleaned  of  refuse;  and  this 
applies  also  to  barns  and  other  places  where  the  tobacco  is  stored.  If 
tli's  be  done  systematically  over  the  entire  affected  area  it  will  leave 
very  few  insects  to  combat  the  following  year. 

The  first  appearing  insects  could  be  attracted  and  successfully  dealt 
with,  there  is  do  doubt,  by  setting  early  plants  as  traps  here  and  there 
over  the  area  to  be  grown  in  tobacco.  The  growth  of  the  plants  could 
be  stimulated,  and  they  could  be  protected  from  insects  and  the  weather 
until  ready  for  use,  by  covering  them  with  square  frames  covered  with 
cheese  cloth  or  similar  material.  A  few  days  before  planting  the 
main  crop  the  covers  should  be  removed  and  the  plants  thoroughly 
coated  with  a  spray  of  some  arsenical. 

Before  setting  out  the  main  crop  the  plants  should  be  dipped  in  a 
solution  of  arsenate  of  lead,  prepared  at  the  rate  of  1  pound  of  poison 
to  100  gallons  of  water.  This  would  not  scorch  the  plants,  and  it 
would  be  preferable  to  Paris  green,  as  it  remains  longer,  requiring 
more  rain  to  wash  it  off.  In  a  week  or  ten  days,  according  to  the 
growth  of  the  plant,  a  second  spraying  should  be  made,  and  for  this 
purpose  either  arsenate  of  lead  or  Paris  green  and  Bordeaux  mixture 
can  be  used. 

It  is  suggested  by  way  of  experiment  that  one  plat  of,  say,  25  or  more 
plants  be  sprayed  with  arsenate  o"f  lead;  a  second  with  Paris  green,  1 
pound  to  150  gallons  of  water;  a  third  with  Paris  green  at  the  same 
rate,  with  the  addition  of  Bordeaux  mixture  used  instead  of  lime  as  a 
diluent;  and  the  fourth,  with  Bordeaux  mixture  alone.  It  is  not 
known  to  what  extent  Bordeaux  mixture  would  prove  repellent  to  this 
weevil  (possibly  not  greatly),  but  if  sufficiently  distasteful  it  would 
drive  the  insects  from  the  plants  treated  with  it  to  others  which  should 
be  poisoned  with  Paris  green  alone. 

THE  LEAF-MINING  LOCUST  BEETLE,.  WITH  NOTES  ON  RELATED 

SPECIES. 

By  F.  H.  Chittexden. 

The  foliage  of  the  common  yellow  or  black  locust  tree  (Rdbinia 
pseudacacici)  is  subject  to  the  attack  of  a  leaf -beetle,  sometimes  called 
in  literature  the  locust  Hispa  ( Odon tota  dorsalis  Thunb.)  and  which  we 
may  call  the  leaf -mining  locust  beetle  to  distinguish  it  from  several 
other  forms  of  insects,  mostly  the  larvae  of  Tineidag,  which  also  mine 
xthe  leaves  of  this  tree,  and  from  other  beetles  which  attack  the  trunk 
and  other  portions  of  the  tree.  Injury  by  the  species  under  discussion 
is  due  mainly  to  the  work  of  the  larvae,  although  the  beetles  also  assist. 


71 


Damage  usually  becomes  manifest  some  time  in  July  in  the  more 
northern  States,  and  southward  earlier,  in  June.  In  cases  of  severe 
attack  the  leaves  turn  brown  as  if  scorched  by  fire.  Injurious  attack 
is  not  often  brought  to  the  notice  of  economic  entomologists,  which  is 
rather  remarkable  considering  that  the  locust  is  of  great  value  as  a 
timber  tree,  for  posts,  etc.,  though  of  less  importance  as  a  shade  tree 
than  elm,  oak,  maple,  and  others  with  which  everyone  is  familiar. 
Thus  it  happens  that  although  year  after  year  this  insect  has  done 
much  harm  to  the  locust,  where  this  tree  is  of  value,  comparatively 
little  has  been  published  concerning  the  insect's  ravages,  its  life  history 
and  habits. 

Like  many  other  insect  pests,  it  is  subject  to  considerable  fluctuation 
in  numbers,  in  some  years  being  quite  destructive  while  in  others  it 
attracts  little  notice.  It  is  nearly  always  more  or  less  troublesome  to 
the  locusts  in  Maryland,  Virginia,  and  the  District  of  Columbia,  and  in 
recent  years  has  been  reported  as  more  or  less  destructive  in  neighbor- 
ing States.    Injury  has  been  reported  in  West  Virginia  from  1890  to 

1897,  in  New  York  and  New  Jersey  in  1896,  in  Maryland  from  1896  to 
1899,  in  Ohio  and  Kentucky  in  1897,  in  Pennsylvania  and  Kentucky  in 

1898.  These  reports  probably  do  not  by  any  means  sum  up  the  entire 
area  infested  during  the  past  ten  years.  In  1898  this  beetle  did  more 
than  usual  damage  over  a  considerable  portion  of  this  territory. 

In  most  seasons  this  beetle  does  little  more  harm  to  the  locust  than 
to  mar  its  beauty  as  a  shade  tree,  but  in  years  of  its  greatest  abun- 
dance it  is  probable  that  trees  are  so  badly  weakened  by  the  combined 
ravages  of  this  and  other  leaf -miners  that  the  result  is  practically  the 
same  as  that  of  defoliation;  the  trees  are  so  weakened  that  they  readily 
succumb  to  disease,  to  unfavorable  atmospheric  conditions,  and  to  the 
destructive  work  of  different  species  of  borers,  such  as  the  painted 
locust  borer  (Cyllene  robiniw  Forst.),  a  species  which  is  of  still  more 
importance  as  an  enemy  of  this  tree. 

In  the  vicinity  of  the  District  of  Columbia  the  damage  effected  by 
this  leaf -miner  is  frequently  as  bad  as  reported  elsewhere,  and  we 
have  observed  locust  groves  where  the  injury  was  almost  entirely  due 
to  the  work  of  the  beetle,  while  in  others  the  Tineid  leaf -miners  were 
more  numerous.  As  a  rule,  however,  this  locust  beetle  is  more 
abundant  about  Washington  than  all  of  the  leaf-mining  Tineida?  and 
other  locust  pests  taken  together,  and  its  importance  in  economic 
entomology  is  deserving  of  a  more  detailed  consideration  than  has 
hitherto  been  given  to  the  public. 

Injury  is  usually  most  severe  to  young  trees  and  to  such  as  have 
low,  vigorous  branches,  and  to  others  growing  on  the  edges  of  sunny 
lawns  and  in  similar  locations.  There  are,  however,  some  striking 
exceptions.  In  many  localities  such  plants  suffer  greatly  year  after 
year.    Taller  trees,  on  the  contrary,  are  much  less  subject  to  injury. 


72 


In  speaking  of  damage  effected  l)y  this  leaf-miner,  Chambers  (Amor. 
Ent.,  Vol.  Ill,,  p.  61)  says: 

The  young  trees  seem  to  suffer  most,  as  the  insect  seems  to  prefer  their  foliage; 
and  large  old  trees  seldom  exhibit  the  burnt  appearance  of  the  young  groves. 
Young  shoots  growing  up  around  an  old  trunk  will  sometimes  have  nearly  all  of 
their  leaves  blistered,  while  few,  comparatively,  on  the  old  tree  will  be  injured. 

DESCRIPTIVE. 

Few  species  among  our  native  Coleoptera  exhibit  more  striking 
coloration  than  Odontota  dorsalis®  so  that  with  the  accompanying 
illustration  (fig.  3,  a)  and  description  even  an  inexperienced  observer 
can  not  fail  to  recognize  it. 


b  cu  e> 

Fig.  3. — Odontota  dorsalis:  a,  beetle;  b,  larva;  c,  pupa — 5  times  natural 
size  (original). 


The  beetle. — Elongate  in  form,  moderately  convex,  only  moderately  shining,  the 
color  of  the  dorsal  or  upper  side  being  bright  orange  red  with  the  head  and  a  vitta 
or  stripe  along  the  suture  of  the  elytra  or  wing  cases  black.  The  ventral  or  under 
side,  including  the  legs,  is  also  black.  The  black  sutural  vitta  occupies  usually 
about  one-third  of  the  width  of  the  elytra  and  widens  behind,  but  sometimes  it  is 
much  narrower  and  of  equal  width  and  still  more  rarely  widest  at  the  base.  The 
structural  characters  which,  besides  the  coloration,  distinguish  0.  dorsalis  from  other 
species  of  the  same  genus  are  as  follows:  Form  rather  slender,  not  cuneiform;  elytra 
of  equal  width,  each  having  ten  series  of  punctures  and  three  of  the  interstices  form- 
ing elevated  costae. 

It  measures  a  little  less  than  a  fourth  of  an  inch  in  length  (5-5.5  mm.)  and  is  less 
than  half  that  in  width  (2.2-2.4  mm.)  at  its  widest  part. 

The  egg  is  short,  oval  in  outline  and  flattened  on  two  sides,  its  color  when  freshly 

«  As  this  species  has  been  given  other  names  than  the  one  here  used,  a  word  should 
be  added  in  regard  to  nomenclature.  The  specific  name  dorsalis  was  proposed  first 
by  Thunberg  in  1805  (Gotting  Gel.  Ang.,  p.  282);  in  1808  Olivier  redescribed  it  as 
Chrysomela  scutellaris  (Ent.  Hist.  Nat.,  Coleop.  Vol.  VI,  p.  771),  and  Harris  also 
described  the  species  as  new,  using  the  name  Hispa  suturalis,  which  was  first  intro- 
duced by  the  Rev.  F.  V.  Melsheimer  in  his  Catalogue  of  the  Coleoptera  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, published  in  1806  (p.  15,  no.  308) ,  and  seems  to  be  based  on  an  erroneous 
identification  of  our  species  with  the  Hispa  suturalis  of  Fabricius. 


73 


laid  being  milk  white,  with  the  shell  extremely  thin  and  pliable.  A  very  fine  net- 
like sculpture  is  barely  visible  even  under  a  strong  magnifying  glass. 

Tlie  larva. — The  more  obvious  characters  by  which  the  full-grown  larva  (fig.  3,  b) 
may  be  distinguished  are  as  follows: 

Body  depressed  (but  not  flattened),  elongate,  very  little  tapering  posteriorly,  gla- 
brous, color  yellowish  white,  the  head,  larger  portions  of  first  thoracic  segment, 
upper  side  of  anal  segment,  and  the  legs  brownish  or  blackish.  Head  subquadrate, 
about  half  as  wide  as  the  first  thoracic  segment,  brown,  shining,  impunctate,  with 
a  deeply  impressed  median  line.  First  thoracic  segment  more  than  twice  as  wide 
as  long,  a  little  longer  than  the  head,  distinctly  bisinuate  at  the  anterior  margin, 
sides  strongly  rounded;  a  large  brown  spot  divided  by  a  narrow  median  line  occupies 
the  greater  portion  of  the  upper  surface,  but  does  not  reach  the  posterior  and  side 
margins.  Second  thoracic  segment  a  little  shorter,  but  wider  than  the  first,  sides 
very  strongly  arched  but  not  gibbous,  surface  uniformly  whitish;  third  thoracic  seg- 
ment equal  to  the  second.  First  abdominal  segment  a  little  shorter  than  the  last 
thoracic  one  and  also  a  little  narrower,  but  produced  on  each  side  into  a  triangular, 
semitransparent  tubercle,  capped  with  a  more  horny  point  which  in  its  turn  termi- 
nates in  a  short  spine.  Second,  third,  and  fourth  abdominal  segments  equal  to  the 
first;  on  the  following  segments  (which  are  slightly  longer  than  the  first)  the  lateral 
tubercle  is  directed  gradually  more  backward;  anal  segment  unarmed,  shorter  and 
much  narrower  than  the  preceding,  subtruncate  at  tip,  its  upper  side  being  of  a 
brown  color. 

The  general  color  of  the  dorsal  surface  is  not  uniform,  but  variegated  by  the  trans- 
parency of  the  skin  as  the  fat  corpuscles  of  the  body  appear  on  the  surface  as  yellowish- 
white  spots,  the  rest  of  the  body  being  grayish  white.  The  sculpture  of  the  dorsal 
surface  (excepting  head  and  anal  segments,  which  are  smooth)  consists  of  a  very  reg- 
ular fine  granulation  and  besides  this  of  vague  impressions  arranged  as  follows:  On 
the  first  thoracic  segment  an  undulating  impression  each  side  on  the  disk;  on  the 
two  following  thoracic  segments  a  long  transverse  median  impression  accompanied 
each  side  posteriorly  by  a  foveiform  impression;  on  the  abdominal  segments  a  trans- 
verse median  impression  and  another  oblique  one  each  side,  causing  the  spiracles  to 
be  placed  upon  a  kind  of  blunt  tubercle. 

The  ventral  surface  is  colored  like  the  dorsal  and  only  the  head  and  median  por- 
tion of  the  first  thoracic  segment  are  brown,  while  the  general  sculpture  is  like  that 
of  the  upper  side,  legs  being  brownish  or  blackish,  stout,  and  widely  separated. 

There  are  nine  pairs  of  rather  conspicuous  stigmata,  all  visible  from  above  and  sit- 
uated as  follows:  One  pair  at  the  anterior  angle  of  the  second  thoracic  segment,  one 
pair  on  each  of  the  first  seven  abdominal  segments,  each  stigma  being  at  the  base  of 
the  lateral  tubercle  a  little  before  the  middle  of  the  segment;  the  ninth  pair  is  situ- 
ated on  the  dorsal  side  of  the  anal  segment,  The  thoracic  and  anal  stigmata  are 
larger  than  the  intermediate  ones. a 

o  It  is  interesting  to  observe  that  most  leaf-mining  larvae  of  different  families  or 
even  of  different  orders  of  insects  exhibit  a  strong  uniformity  in  general  appear- 
ance, viz,  a  more  or  less  depressed  body,  the  head  being  much  narrower  than  the 
first  thoracic  joint,  while  all  joints  of  the  body  (excepting  head  and  anal  joint)  are 
strongly  arched  at  the  sides  and  often  tuberculate  or  even  spinose.  Thus  the  larvae 
of  our  leaf-mining  Buprestidae  (genera  Brachys  and  Pachyscelus)  and  Rhyncho- 
phora  (genus  Orchestes)  have  an  unmistakable  resemblance  to  our  Hispine  larvae, 
and  all  of  these  agree  in  shape  with  the  numerous  Tineid  leaf-miners. 

There  can  be  no  mistake  about  the  number  and  position  of  the  stigmata,  and  the 
account  given  by  Chapuis  &  Candeze  appears  to  be  based  upon  a  wrong  interpreta- 
tion of  Harris's  figures,  entirely  ignoring  the  correct  description  of  that  author. 


74 


The  young  larva*  differ  from  the  mature  ones  by  being  more  con- 
tracted, thus  appearing  more  strongly  tuberculate  at  the  sides.  More- 
over, very  young  larvae  are  entirely  whitish. 

The  pupa  (fig.  3,  c)  is  at  first  whitish,  but  soon  assumes  a  uniform  rich  honey  color. 
In  general  shape  it  resembles  the  lull-grown  larva,  though  a  little  shorter  and  some- 
what more  convex.  The  head  has  become  more  convex  and  especially  wider  in 
comparison  with  the  first  thoracic  segment;  the  second  and  third  thoracic  segments 
have  of  course  changed  the  appearance  of  the  wing  pads,  which  are  longitudinally 
striate  and  bent  downward  along  the  sides  of  the  body,  resting  between  the  second 
and  third  pairs  of  legs  and  reaching  with  their  extremities  to  the  posterior  end  of 
the  first  ventral  segment.  The  abdomen  still  showTs  the  lateral  tubercles  so  con- 
spicuous in  the  larva  and  these  tubercles  are  furnished  each  with  two  or  three 
stiff  bristles.  The  edges  of  the  median  transverse  impressions  on  the  dorsal  sur- 
face of  the  abdominal  joints  of  the  larva  are  in  the  pupa  much  sharper,  ridge-like, 
and  also  furnished  with  sparse  bristles.  The  fourth  abdominal  spiracle  is  replaced 
by  a  long  stout  spine  directed  backward.  On  the  ventral  surface  the  armature  of  spines 
is  even  more  conspicuous  than  on  the  dorsal,  each  segment  having  a  sharply  raised 
transverse  line  which  is  sinuate  and  more  raised  at  the  middle  and  there  furnished 
with  five  or  six  setiferous  tubercles.  On  the  penultimate  segment  the  transverse 
line  is  not  sinuated  and  is  furnished  with  eight  tubercles,  the  two  median  ones  being 
much  less  prominent  than  the  lateral  ones.  .  The  anal  segment  is  also  furnished  with 
two  obsolete  transverse  lines  and  with  a  few  inconspicuous  tubercles. 

This  array  of  bristles  and  tubercles  enables  the  pupa  to  move  rapidly 
forward  or  backward  by  a  wriggling  motion  of  the  abdomen.  The 
power  of  locomotion  exhibited  in  this  pupa  is  really  astonishing;  in 
fact,  the  pupa  is  much  better  afoot,  so  to  speak,  than  the  larva. a 

The  mine  produced  by  the  larva  has  not  hitherto  been  described  so 
that  it  ma3r  be  distinguished  from  the  mines  produced  by  the  various 
leaf-mining  Tineidse  which  are  usually  working  in  company  with  it. 
As  already  stated,  the  beetle  larva  consumes  the  whole  of  the  paren- 
chyma within  its  mine,  thus  causing  the  mine  to  be  equally  visible  on 
both  sides  of  the  leaf,  whereas  in  the  case  of  the  Tineida?  the  larva 
destro}Ts  only  a  thin  layer  of  the  upper  portion  of  the  parenchyma, 
causing  the  mine  to  be  invisible  on  the  underside  of  the  leaf.  The 
Tineid  larva  very  neatly  separates  the  epidermis  from  the  parenchyma 
so  that  not  a  particle  of  this  last  is  left  adhering  to  the  skin-like 
epidermis  forming  the  roof  of  the  mine,  and  this  roof  is  of  a  uni- 
form pale  buff  color  strongly  contrasting  with  the  green  of  the  leaf. 
On  the  other  hand,  the  larvae  of  the  beetle  accomplish  their  work  much 
less  carefully;  numerous  small  particles  of  the  parenchyma  are  left 
adhering  to  the  epidermis,  and  consequently  the  latter  forms  a  much 
thicker  covering  to  the  mine  than  in  the  case  of  the  Tineidse.  The 
color  of  the  mine  is  a  pale  green  slightly  tinged  with  brown,  its  surface 

The  power  of  locomotion  in  the  pupa  becomes  still  more  remarkable  if  we  take 
into  consideration  that  the  pupa,  which  always  remains  within  the  mine,  has  really  no 
occasion  or  opportunity  to  make  use  of  it,  unless  wre  except  the  possibility  that  by 
wriggling  about  in  their  mines  the  pupae  might  succeed  in  evading  parasitic  or  pre- 
daceous  attack. 


75 


being  lightly  roughened  and  never  so  smooth  as  in  the  lepidopterous 
mines.  In  outline  the  beetle-larva  mine  is  neither  uniformly  rounded 
nor  provided  with  finger-like  processes,  but  irregularly  undulated. 
As  soon  as  the  larva  has  left  the  mine  or  has  changed  to  pupa,  the 
affected  part  of  the  leaf  dries  up  and  assumes  the  dismal  brown  color 
already  alluded  to. 

GEOGRAPHICAL  DISTRIBUTION. 

This  species  is  native  to  North  America,  and  apparently  partial  to 
the  upper  austral  life  zone,  but  its  full  distribution  does  not  appear 
to  have  been  clearly  defined  beyond  published  statements  that  it  occurs 
in  New  England  and  the  Middle,  Southern,  and  Western  States. 
Northward,  we  know  of  its  occurrence  in  Massachusetts,  Connecticut, 
and  Canada,  but  it  does  not  appear  to  have  ever  been  taken  in  Michi- 
gan, a  State  which  has  been  rather  thoroughly  collected  over  by  Messrs. 
Schwarz  and  Hubbard.  In  Missouri,  although  numerous  collectors 
and  observers  have  made  collections  in  that  State,  the  species  appears 
to  be  rare,  although  taken  in  two  localities.  It  will  thus  be  seen  that 
although  the  southern  and  western  range  is  practically  limited  by  the 
States  of  Virginia,  Kentucky,  and  Missouri  southward,  and  by  Mis- 
souri also  westward,  the  precise  limits  of  its  range  remain  to  be 
determined. 

In  his  Check  List  of  the  Forest  Trees  of  the  United  States  (Bui.  17, 
Div.  Forestry,  U.  S.  Department  Agr. .  1898,  p.  82)  Mr.  George  B. 
Sudworth  speaks  as  follows  regarding  the  distribution  of  Robinia 
jpseud<irtic'nt : 

Range. — From  Pennsylvania  (on  the  Appalachian  Mountains  from  Locust  Ridge 
in  Marion  County)  to  northern  Georgia.  Widely  naturalized  through  cultivation 
and  other  agencies  throughout  the  United  States  east  of  the  Rocky  Mountains;  possi- 
bly indigenous  in  parts  of  Arkansas  ( Crowley  s  Ridge,  etc.)  and  eastern  Indian  Ter- 
ritory; also  in  the  Great  Smoky  Mountains  of  eastern  Tennessee  (Sevier  County). 

From  the  entomological  record  it  would  seem,  therefore,  at  least  at 
the  present  writing,  that  this  locust  Hispid  has  a  more  limited  range 
of  distribution  than  its  food  plant,  a  fact  which  is  not  infrequently 
noticed  among  insects  and  which  obtains  also  in  another  species  of 
Hispidae,  viz,  the  trumpet-creeper  leaf-miner,  Ocbotoma  plicatula,  to 
be  considered  later  on  in  the  present  article. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  localities  from  which  the  species  has  been 
received  at  this  office  or  is  known  to  the  writer  or  recorded: 

Massachusetts;  Connecticut;  Allegheny,  York,  Pa.;  Coney  Island,  Rockaway 
Beach,  Yaphank,  L.  I.,  X.  Y.;  New  Jersey  (throughout  the  State — Smith);  Ten- 
nallytown,  Washington,  D.  C. ;  Oakland,  Bladensburg,  Glen  Echo,  Cabin  John, 
Marshall  Hall,  Md.;  Cherry  dale,  Rossi  yn,  Ya. ;  Monongalia,  Wood,  Hancock, 
Harrison,  Upshur,  Tyler,  Preston,  and  Tucker  counties,  Morgantown,  Kanawha, 
Clarksburg,  W.  Ya. ;  southern  Ohio,  particularly  Brown,  Clermont,  and  Hamilton 
counties;  Nazareth,  Frankfort,  Ky. ;  Cadet,  Louisiana,  Mo.;  Indianapolis,  Ind. 
(Blatchley). 


76 


INJURIOUS  OCCURRENCES  IN  1898. 

Frequent  inquiry  has  been  made  concerning  this  species  and  the 
injury  committed  by  it,  but  it  will  be  sufficient  for  present  purposes 
merely  to  recount  the  occurrences  of  the  year  1898  as  an  example  of 
what  is  liable  to  happen  any  year. 

May  LQ  beetles  were  observed  in  a  raspberry  patch  at Tennally town, 
1).  C,  feeding*  upon  the  upper  surface  of  the  leaves.  July  1  we 
received  a  communication  from  Sister  Marie,  Nazareth,  Ky.,  about 
injury  to  locust  in  that  locality.  July  22  Maj.  Henry  E.  Alvord,  of 
this  Department,  transmitted  specimens  of  locust  leaves  from  Fairfax 
County,  Va.,  with  accompanying  statement  that  all  locust  trees  over 
an  area  of  several  square  miles  in  that  county  were  at  that  time  appar- 
ently dead,  looking  as  if  a  fire  had  swept  through  the  country,  but 
without  actually  consuming  the  foliage.  Major  Alvord  was  interested 
to  the  extent  of  300  acres,  canning  a  very  large  locust  growth  of 
considerable  value.  On  this  tract  not  a  tree  could  be  found,  either  old 
or  young,  protected  or  exposed,  that  was  not  in  bad  condition.  The 
cause  of  the  affection  of  the  plants  was  not  at  first  attributed  to  insects, 
but  believed  to  have  developed  as  a  result  of  a  recent  period  of  excep- 
tional dryness  and  heat,  a  remark  which  applies  to  much  injury  to 
locust  that  is  caused  by  this  leaf -miner.  Ravages  were  so  extensive, 
also,  that  it  was  practically  out  of  the  question  to  attempt  any  general 
remedy  or  means  of  prevention.  August  1  we  received  from  Mr.  J.  E. 
Herbert,  York,  Pa.,  specimens  of  leaves  showing  injury  by  this  species 
and  attributed  to  blight  or  rust.  Injury  was  stated  to  be  general 
along  the  Susquehanna  River,  in  York  County,  where  every  locust 
tree  seemed  to  be  affected. 

HISTORY  AND  LITERATURE  OF  THE  SPECIES. 

The  natural  history  of  the  leaf-mining  locust  beetle  was  first  made 
public  in  an  article  "Upon  the  Economy  of  Some  American  Species 
of  Hispa,"  by  Dr.  Harris,  printed  in  1835  (Boston  Journ.  Nat.  Hist., 
Vol.  I,  pp.  141-151),  an  account  which,  until  comparatively  recent 
years,  constituted  the  only  source  of  information  regarding  the  early 
stages  of  the  Hispini.  It  is  noticeable  that  neither  Harris  nor  subse- 
quent authors  of  early  times  mentioned  this  species  as  particularly 
troublesome,  the  first  instance  of  observed  injury  having  been  pub- 
lished in  1868  in  an  editorial  answer  to  a  correspondent  of  the  American 
Entomologist  (Vol.  I,  p.  58).  The  injury  in  question  was  at  Frank- 
fort, Ky. ,  and  it  was  stated  that  the  beetles  had  eaten  the  leaves  of 
black  locust  in  that  section  so  severely  as  to  kill  the  trees  in  some 
x  cases,  and  generally  to  injure  their  growth  and  appearance.  It  was 
pointed  out  in  the  editorial  reply  that  the  principal  damage  was  doubt- 
less due  to  the  insidious  work  of  the  larvae  in  the  pulpy  internal  sub- 


77 


stance  of  the  leaf,  rather  than  to  the  feeding  of  the  beetles  on  the 
leaves. 

The  nature  of  the  damage  effected  by  this  insect  is  well  illustrated 
in  an  article  which  appeared  in  Volume  III  of  the  American  Ento- 
mologist (pp.  59-61)  by  V.  T.  Chambers.  Injury  by  this  species  is 
stated  to  have  been  rather  general  in  northern  Kentucky.  44  By  the 
1st  of  August  the  groves  look  as  if  a  tire  had  swept  over  them;  and  on 
examining  the  leaves  in  many  groves  almost  every  leaflet  will  be  found 
to  contain  a  'mine,'  as  the  burrow  of  the  larva  is  technically  called, 
and  many  of  them  will  contain  three  or  four,  while  the  imago  or 
mature  insect  of  JSispa  suturalis  will  be  found  in  great  numbers  feed- 
ing externally  on  the  leaves.*' 

About  half  of  the  injury  A\as  attributed  to  the  leaf-mining  locust 
beetle,  the  remainder  to  other  species  of  leaf-miners. 

The  bibliography  of  this  species  has  been  brought  together  up  to 
1896  in  Dr.  Lintner's  Twelfth  Report  on  the  Insects  of  the  State  of 
New  York  for  that  year  (pp.  264,  265),  and  the  subject  need  not  be 
entered  into  here  in  detail.  It  should  be  mentioned,  however,  that 
the  ravages  of  this  species  had  assumed  sufficient  proportions  in  West 
Virginia  to  call  for  special  investigations  on  the  part  of  Dr.  A.  D. 
Hopkins,  these  studies  having  been  begun  in  1890,  the  results  being  pub- 
lished in  a  short  article  in  Bulletin  No.  16  (p.  87).  In  the  Canadian 
Entomologist  for  1896  (p.  248)  the  same  writer  mentions  the  destruc- 
tiveness  of  this  species  in  AVest  Virginia,  adding  some  new  food  plants, 
and  in  Bulletin  No.  9,  n.  s.  (p.  20),  the  junior  author  called  attention 
for  the  first  time  to  the  fact  that  this  species  feeds  also  upon  herbaceous 
plants,  and  that  the  larvae  develop  in  the  leaves  of  soy  bean.  Other 
accounts,  which  appeared  with  and  since  the  year  1896,  contain  little 
more  than  mention  by  State  entomologists  of  ravages  made  by  this 
insect  in  their  respective  States,  all  of  which  have  been  briefly  brought 
together  in  the  introductory  chapter  on  this  species.  Exceptions  are 
Dr.  Lintner's  article  previously  cited  and  a  column  article  by  Prof.  E.  D. 
Sanderson  on  page  672  of  American  Gardening  for  September  30, 1899. 

FOOD  PLANTS. 

This  species  forms  a  rather  interesting  example  of  an  insect  with  a 
well-known  favorite  food  plant,  which  will  also  feed,  even  in  times 
when  this  plant  is  available,  on  numerous  other  forms  of  vegetation, 
both  related  and  otherwise. 

The  prime,  and  no  doubt  the  original,  food  of  the  larva  and  beetle  is, 
of  course,  common  locust  {Hobi/nia  pst  udaccudd)^  but  there  is  no  doubt 
that  larvae  could  develop  equally  well  in  the  leaves  of  other  species  of 
the  same  genus,  and  perhaps  of  most  other  trees  of  the  same  family. 
On  the  grounds  of  the  Department  of  Agriculture  at  Washington  the 


78 


insect  has  been  found  in  about  equal  abundance  on  various  cultivated 
varieties  of  this  locust,  and  the  larva  has  also  been  observed  in  the 
leaves  of  false  indigo  (Amorpha  fruticosci).  Beetles  are  not  infre- 
quently met  with  upon  various  other  trees,  and  more  especially  oak, 
but  the  larva  has  not  been  found  until  recently  on  any  other  plants 
than  the  two  above  specified.  Tn  the  year  1880  this  species  was  stated 
by  Dr.  John  H.  Warder  (American  Ent.,  Vol.  Ill,  p.  151)  to  be  devour- 
ing the  foliage  of  Siberian  crab  apples,  and  rendering  it  quite  shabby, 
other  forms  of  apple  of  the  immediate  vicinity  escaping  attack.  The 
Crataegus  tommtosa  and  some  quinces  appeared  eroded  in  the  same 
manner,  and,  although  the  insect  was  not  seen,  the  injury  was  proba- 
bly due  to  this  species.  The  same  correspondent  mentions  the  young 
leaves  of  red  oak  (Q  Kerens  rubra)  and  European  white  oak  (Q.  pedun- 
culata)  as  having  been  attacked,  while  nine  or  ten  other  species  of  oak 
observed  escaped  injury.  It  seems  probable  that  the  larva  does  not 
develop  in  oak,  or  in  other  plants  outside  the  order  to  which  the  locust 
belongs,  the  Leguminosre.  The  leaves  of  TJlmus  americana,  or  white 
elm,  were  also  stated  by  Dr.  Warder  to  have  been  eaten."  The  beetles 
have  been  observed  by  Dr.  Hopkins  (Bui.  32,  W.  Va.  Agric.  Ex.  Sta,, 
1893,  p.  202)  attacking  beech,  apple,  wild  cheriy,  and  Wistaria  leaves; 
as  also  birch  and  hawthorn  (Can.  Ent.,  Vol.  XXVIII,  p.  248).  Dur- 
ing the  summer  of  1897  the  writer  observed  this  species  feeding  upon 
the  foliage  of  red  clover,  which  grew  under  locust  trees  upon  which  the 
larvae  had  originally  fed,  on  the  leaves  of  hog  peanut  (Falcata  com<»«i) 
growing  under  locust  trees,  while  larvae  were  found  and  reared  on  the 
large  hairy  leaves  of  soy  beans  on  the  grounds  of  this  Department  about 
200  yards  from  where  locust  trees  were  growing  (Bui.  9,  n.  s.,  Div. 
Entom.,  pp.  22,  23). 

LIFE  HISTORY  AND  HABITS. 

The  heetle.  — In  the  vicinit}^  of  Washington  the  beetle  makes  its  first 
appearance  as  soon  as  the  leaves  of  the  locust  tree  have  fully  devel- 
oped, usually  about  the  beginning  of  May,  and  is  then  to  be  seen 
without  interruption  throughout  the  summer,  until  the  first  half  of 
September,^  being  quite  abundant  from  the  first  week  of  July  to  near 
the  middle  of  August.  During  1902  the  beetles  of  the  first  new  gen- 
eration began  to  develop  July  7  and  had  transformed  for  the  most 
part  by  the  12th  of  that  month. 

The  beetle  is  usually  seen,  apparently  motionless,  upon  the  surface 
of  the  leaves,  but  upon  close  inspection  it  will  be  found  busily  engaged 

a Owing  to  the  confusion  in  the  scientific  nomenclature  of  our  locust  Hispid,  these 
other  records  are  not  quite  reliable,  and  may  refer  either  to  Odontota  rubra  or  to  0. 
nervosa,  as  these  species  are  now  known. 

&Dr.  Hopkins  has  recorded  the  occurrence  of  0.  dorsalis  in  West  Virginia  as  late 
as  October  3,  but  does  not  state  whether  the  beetles  were  feeding  at  this  time. 


79 


in  feeding*.  Early  in  the  season,  when  the  leaves  are  still  tender,  the 
beetle  eats  small  oblong  holes  in  the  leaves,  but  later  in  the  season  it 
asually  leaves  the  lower  half  intact  and  the  upper  portion  finely  skele- 
tonized. At  any  rate,  the  damage  done  by  the  beetles,  even  when  they 
arc  very  numerous,  is  trifling  when  compared  with  that  inflicted  by  the 
larva.  The  beetle  is  a  slow  walker  and  apparently  dislikes  to  move 
about  without  cogent  reason,  but  if  disturbed  it  takes  wing  rapidly 
and  is  capable  of  sustained  flight  for  long  distances.  During  rainy 
weather,  at  night  time,  and  during  the  act  of  oviposition  the  beetle 
is  to  be  met  with  on  the  underside  of  the  leave-. 

Hibernation. — There  can  be  no  doubt  that  the  perfect  beetle  alone 
hibernates.  It  seeks  winter  quarters  rather  early  in  the  season,  some 
time  in  September.  During  mild  winter  days  a  specimen  may  occa- 
sionally be  found  under  accumulated  leaves  at  or  near  the  base  of 
locust  trees,  but  even  for  an  experienced  entomologist  it  is  not  an  eas;v 
task  to  find  them  in  their  sheltered  retreats. 

Mode  of  oviposition. — Dr.  Harris's  description  of  the  eggs  of  Hispini 
(Treatise,  etc.,  Flint  ed.,  p.  120)  does  not  apply  to  this  locust  beetle,  and 
appears  to  have  been  made  from  dried  cabinet  specimens.  The  fact  is 
that  in  our  species  the  eggs  are  not  laid  on  the  upper  side  of  the  leaf  but 
always  on  the  underside,  and.  further,  that  they  are  not  laid  sinsrly  but 
in  masses,  each  composed  of  from  three  to  five  eggs,  which  are  glued 
together  by  a  sticky  substance  and  partially  covered  with  an  excremen- 
titious  secretion.  We  succeeded  in  July  in  partially  observing  the  act 
of  oviposition.  which  may  be  described  as  follows:  One  egg  was  already 
deposited,  representing  a  somewhat  flattened,  short,  oval  object  of 
yellowish-pink  color  fastened  to  the  leaf  by  its  flat  side.  The  female 
beetle  was  quietly  resting  with  the  forepart  of  her  body  much  erected 
and  the  last  abdominal  joints  covering  the  egg.  while  the  tip  of  the  elytra 
touched  the  surface  of  the  leaf  beyond  the  egg.  After  a  while  the  tip 
of  the  abdomen  was  bent  toward  the  egg  and  a  yellowish-pink  semifluid 
matter  was  excreted;  then  an  egg  appeared  at  the  genital  opening,  but 
was  several  times  retracted  and  again  protruded,  when  finally,  with  a 
sudden  effort,  the  beetle  moved  its  abdomen  a  little  backward  and 
deposited  the  egg  so  that  with  its  end  it  rested  upon  the  leaf  and  with 
its  greater  portion  over  the  first  egg.  Then  the  beetle  rested  for  about 
two  minutes,  when  the  same  process  was  repeated.  The  act  of  oviposi- 
tion itself  takes  only  a  fraction  of  a  second.  When  the  last  egg  has  been 
laid  the  beetle  makes  a  sudden  movement  forward,  sweeping  with  the 
tip  of  the  abdomen  the  upper  side  of  the  egg  mass  and  discharging  at 
the  same  time  a  large  quantity  of  fluid  fecal  matter  of  dirty-yellow 
color,  which  <oon  hardens  and  darkens. 

From  this  mode  of  oviposition  the  form  of  an  egg  mass  can  be  readily 
understood.  Since  the  second  and  the  following  eggs  each  overlap 
the  preceding  egg,  but  at  the  same  time  touch  with  one  end  the  surface 


80 


of  tin1  Leaf,  it  is  evident  that  each  egg  is  placed  somewhat  more  ver- 
tically than  the  preceding  one.  But  as  there  are  never  more  than  five 
eggs  in  a  single  egg  mass,  the  last  of  these  is  still  placed  obliquely, 
and  the  egg  mass  when  viewed  from  the  side  slopes  very  gradually  in 
the  direction  toward  the  first  egg  while  it  ends  more  abruptly  at  the 
last  one.  Owing  to  the  glutinous  and  excremental  coverings  the  indi- 
vidual eggs  can  not  be  distinguished  from  above,  but  on  the  sides  and 
t'roin  beneath,  where  the  glutinous  covering  is  very  thin  or  absent,  the\T 
may  be  plainly  distinguished.  The  glutinous  substance  appears  to 
possess  some  caustic  properties,  for  the  place  of  an  egg  mass  can  always 
be  seen  on  the  upper  side  of  the  leaf  as  a  small  brown  spot.  It  hardens 
very  rapidly,  and  becomes  so  tough  and  firmly  adherent  to  the  eggs 
that  these  can  not  be  taken  out  from  a  mass  without  destroying  them. 

The  duration  of  the  egg  state  appears  to  be  very  variable,  most  of 
those  which  were  gathered  (in  July)  when  apparently  quite  freshly 
laid  hatching  in  from  six  to  eight  days,  while  others  of  the  same 
batch  hatched  nearly  a  week  later,  but  in  every  instance  all  the  eggs 
of  one  egg  mass  hatch  nearly  at  the  same  time,  or  at  least  within  the 
space  of  a  few  hours,  the  first-laid  egg  usually  hatching  first. 

The  larva  <hkI  its  work. — The  young  larvae  invariably  break  through 
the  egg  shell  on  the  underside  of  the  egg  mass  and  at  once  begin  to 
gnaw  through  the  epidermis  of  the  leaf  without  leaving  the  protecting 
egg  mass.  Then  they  proceed  to  eat  out  the  inside  of  the  leaf,  leaving 
only  the  epidermis  of  both  sides  of  the  leaf  intact,  thus  forming  what 
in  scientific  terminology  is  known  as  a  tentiform  mine.  There  is  only 
one  entrance  to  the  mine,  that  made  by  the  first-hatched  larva,  the  other 
larva?  entering  the  inside  of  the  leaf  by  the  same  hole.  Thus  from 
three  to  five  young  larvae  are  usually  found  within  the  same  mine, 
which  rapidly  grows  through  their  united  efforts.  In  fact,  within  a 
few  hours  four  young  larvae  had  hollowed  out  about  one-fourth  of  a 
large  leaf,  and  it  is  evident  that  a  single  leaf  is  not  sufficient  to  nourish 
the  larvae  during  their  life  duration.  Moreover,  the  larvae  have  the 
habit  of  hollowing  out  not  more  than  one-half  or  at  most  two-thirds 
of  a  leaf.  Thus  in  from  twTo  to  four  da}Ts  after  hatching  (the  time 
varying  according  to  the  state  of  the  weather,  the  number  of  the 
larva1,  and  the  size  of  the  leaf)  the  larvae  leave  their  original  mine, 
wander  off  along  the  leaf  stems,  often  to  a  considerable  distance  and 
to  another  twig,  and  form  new  mines,  but  this  time  each  larva  lives 
by  itself.  There  are  never  two  separate  mines  on  one  and  the  same 
leaf,  and  only  once  were  two  nearly  full-grown  larvae  found  in  the 
same  mine.  In  captivity-  this  process  of  migration  was  repeated  as 
often  as  the  leaves  began  to  wilt,  but  we  did  not  succeed  in  ascertain- 
ing the  number  of  these  changes  in  nature,  owing  to  the  difficulty  in 
following  the  individual  larvae  in  their  migrations,  which  appear  to 
take  place  at  night.    This  much  has  been  ascertained,  that  at  least 


81 


some  larvae  change  their  habitation  three  times,  but  whether  all  larvae 
have  the  same  habit,  or  whether  they  change  of  tener  than  three  times, 
is  uncertain.  However  that  may  be,  it  will  be  seen  that  the  damage 
inflicted  by  the  larvae  is  greatly  increased  by  these  migrations,  for 
every  leaf  attacked  is  doomed  to  destruction. 

The  duration  of  the  larva  state  appears  to  be  quite  variable.  In 
captivity  no  larva  was  actually  carried  through  from  the  time  of 
hatching  to  pupation,  but  from  observations  in  the  field  it  is  pretty 
clear  that  this  period,  even  in  the  height  of  the  season,  is  never  less 
than  two  weeks,  and  probably  lasts  on  the  average  three  weeks,  being 
somewhat  longer  in  the  beginning  of  the  season  than  in  midsummer. 

The  pupa.  — The  pupa  state  is  assumed  within  the  mine  and  lasts  from 
six  and  a  half  to  ten  days,  after  which  the  perfect  beetle  breaks  its  way 
through  the  brittle  epidermis  of  the  leaf. 

At  11  a.  m.  of  August  5  a  larva  taken  from  its  mine  was  found  to 
have  transformed  to  pupa  within  two  or  three  minutes,  the  change 
having  taken  place  while  it  was  being  taken  from  one  room  to  another 
and  returned.  August  12  the  imago  was  found  fully  colored  early  in 
the  morning,  the  pupal  period  having  been  passed  in  about  six  and  a 
half  days.    Temperature,  75°-80°  F. 

The  number  of  generations  annually. — This  is  a  point  in  the  natural 
history  of  the  insect  wThich  has  not  hitherto  been  clearly  made  out. 
Dr.  Harris  (Ins.  Inj.  to  Veg.,  Flint  ed.,  p.  121)  is  evidently  in  favor 
of  a  single  generation,  and  we  have  no  doubt  that  this  will  hold  true 
for  the  more  northern  States;  perhaps  elsewhere.  In  the  latitude  of 
Washington  the  insect,  as  has  been  stated,  appears  in  May,  one  month 
earlier  than  in  Massachusetts,  and  is  then  to  be  found  in  all  stages 
throughout  the  summer,  until  the  beginning  of  August,  when  egg 
laying  ceases.  It  is  therefore  evident  that  individuals  produced  from 
eggs  deposited  early  in  the  season  developed  to  the  mature  insect  early 
enough  to  produce  a  second  generation  in  the  same  manner,  but  no 
second  generation  has  as  yet  been  segregated. 

NATURAL  ENEMIES. 

Of  nonparasitic  enemies  we  have  observed  at  Washington  the  wheel 
bug  {ArUusa  cristatus),  which  appears  to  be  particularly  attracted  by 
the  presence  of  the  Odontota.5  The  young  larvae  of  the  wheel  bug 
may  frequently  be  observed  slowly  walking  over  the  leaves  until  they 
have  found  a  mine  inhabited  by  the  Odontota.  This  found,  the  wheel 
bug  deliberately  pierces  with  its  beak  the  Odontota  larva  through  the 

«  Formerly  Prionidus. 

''The  abundance  of  the  wheel  bug  on  the  Agricultural  grounds  on  the  trees  infested 
by  the  Odontota  is  in  striking  contrast  to  its  comparative  scarcity  on  the  elm  trees 
infested  with  the  imported  elm  leaf-beetle  ( GcderuceUa  luteola)  and  which  are  in  close 
proximity  to  the  locust  trees. 
3622— No.  38—04  6 


82 


epidermis  of  the  leaf.  Should  a  beetle  be  met  by  the  wheel  bug  it  is 
at  once  lifted  in  the  air  on  the  tip  of  the  bug's  proboscis. 

In  its  earlier  stages  the  leaf -mining  locust  beetle  appears  to  be  well 
protected  from  the  attacks  of  true  parasites,  the  eggs  being  inclosed 
in  an  armor-like  covering,  and  the  pupa  remaining  out  of  sight  in  the 
snug  retreat  of  the  mine,  but  still  we  have  reared  in  a  single  season 
no  less  than  four  different  species  of  parasites,  and  Dr.  Harris  men- 
tions and  describes  still  another  species  {Ichneumon  hisp<z)  which  has 
thus  far  remained  unknown  to  us.  These  four  species  of  parasites  are 
as  follows: 

Trichogramma  odontotse  How. — This  species  was  reared  quite  commonly  from  the 
egg  masses  of  this  beetle.  In  cases  of  parasitism  all  the  eggs  of  an  egg  mass  were 
generally  ]>arasitized,  and  only  in  a  few  instances  were  two  or  three  parasitized  eggs 
found  where  the  rest  produced  larvae.  The  fly  emerges  usually  from  the  underside  of 
the  egg  and  gnaws  its  way  through  the  leaf.  Dr.  Howard  described  this  and  the 
other  three  species  which  will  be  mentioned  below,  in  Volume  I  of  Entomologica 
Americana  (pp.  117-118). 

Derostenus  primus  How . — A  few  specimens  of  this  chalcis  fly  were  obtained  from 
the  egg  masses  of  the  Odontota.  The  breeding  of  one  of  these  species  from  the 
peculiar  pupae  of  a  Eulophus  would  seem  to  indicate  that  it  may  in  all  cases  be  a 
secondary  parasite,  and  that  the  specimens  bred  from  the  egg  of  the  Odontota  may 
have  fed  in  the  larva  state  upon  the  larvae  or  pupae  of  Trichogramma  odontota. 

Sympiezus  uroplatte  How. — Upon  opening  the  mines  we  observed  in  a  few  instances 
a  whitish  hymenopterous  larva  feeding  externally  on  the  Odontota  larva  and  having 
already  devoured  the  posterior  half  of  its  body.  The  host  larva  was  of  course  dead 
when  thus  found.  Whether  or  not  this  parasite  in  its  earlier  stage  lives  within  the 
Odontota  larva  has  not  been  ascertained.  It  appears  to  be  very  rare,  and  of  the 
three  specimens  observed  only  one  was  raised  to  the  perfect  insect.  It  formed  a 
naked  black  pupa  within  the  mine. 

Spilochalcis  odontotx  How. — This  parasite  was  observed  emerging  from  the  Odontota 
pupa,  and  no  doubt  lives  as  larva  within  that  of  the  Odontota.  The  parasitized 
pupae  can  be  distinguished  from  the  healthy  ones  by  being  darker  and  rigid.  Upon 
opening  such  pupae  the  parasite  larva,  apparently  full-grown,  was  found  to  occupy 
the  empty  cavity,  but  the  specimens  thus  disturbed  died  without  changing  to  pupa. 
Only  one  winged  parasite  was  obtained  from  a  pupa  which  was  left  undisturbed  in 
the  mine. 

The  Ichneumon  hispx  described  by  Harris  was  obtained  by  him  from  the  pupa  of 
Odontota  quadrata  (=rosea)  and  0.  scutellaris  (=dorsalis).  It  may  belong  to  the 
Braconidae.  Harris's  description  was  published  in  1835  (Boston  Journ.  Nat.  Hist., 
Vol.  I,  p.  150). 

REMEDIES. 

From  what  has  been  said  in  regard  to  the  feeding  habits  of  the  leaf- 
mining  locust  beetle  it  is  obvious  that  whatever  of  a  remedial  nature 
is  employed  must  be  directed  toward  the  beetles,  since  the  larvae 
are  completely  hidden  in  their  mines  in  the  leaves  during  their 
\  short  lifetime,  and  the  eggs  and  pupse  are  similarly  protected  from 
contact  poisons.    The  beetles  can  be  killed  by  means  of  the  arsenicals 


83 

administered  in  the  form  of  a  spray a  in  the  same  manner  as  for  the 
imported  elm  leaf-beetle. 

The  leaves  of  locusts  are  so  smooth  that  they  are  apt  to  shod  an 
ordinary  spray  of  Paris  green,  but  this  can  be  obviated  by  the  addi- 
tion of  glucose  or  molasses  to  the  spraying  mixture,  or  by  the  more 
adhesive  arsenate  of  lead.  It  should  be  unnecessary  to  state  that  the 
proper  time  to  spray  is  upon  the  first  appearance  of  the  beetles  in  May 
or  June,  according  to  the  localities  infested,  that  the  hectics  may  he 
destroyed  before  egg-laying  commences. 

Small  groves  can  be  protected  by  jarring  the  beetles  from  the  trees 
into  sheets  prepared  for  the  purpose  and  saturated  with  kerosene  in 
the  same  manner  as  in  use  against  the  plum  curculio  and  other  beetles 
which  drop  to  the  ground  and  feign  death  when  disturbed.  The  best 
time  for  this  remedy  is  in  the  early  morning,  while  the  beetle-  are 
still  somewhat  sluggish.  This  method  could  only  be  employed  with 
benetit  before  the  beetles  have  oviposited,  and  with  the  cooperation 
of  neighbors  who  possess  similar  trees,  or  in  localities  where  the 
locust  trees  are  isolated,  not  surrounded  by  others  growing  wild. 
This  manner  of  collecting  the  beetles,  to  be  effective,  would  have  to  be 
practiced  every  few  days  so  long  as  the  beetles  continue  to  be  attracted 
to  the  trees. 

Where  only  a  few  trees  in  yards  or  lawns  are  to  be  protected,  even 
more  simple  mechanical  methods  could  be  employed,  such  as  jarring 
the  beetles  into  inverted  umbrellas  and  picking  off  the  egg  masses 
before  these  hatch.  The  egg  masses  are  not  difficult  of  detection  and 
are  sufficiently  conspicuous  by  reason  of  their  size  and  color  to  be 
easily  seen  by  looking  for  them  from  beneath  the  branches  toward  the 
light. 

In  connection  with  any  remedy  that  might  be  employed,  clean  culture 
must  always  be  practiced,  which  includes  the  destruction  of  all  volun- 
teer locust  growth  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  trees  planted  for  shade 
and  ornament,  and  the  prompt  raking  up  and  destruction  of  the  locust 
leaves  and  other  debris  about  the  trees  in  the  early  autumn. 

The  protection  of  extensive  woody  tracts  in  which  locust  predomi- 
nates is  practically  out  of  the  question. 

THE  LEAF-IUIXIXO  LINDEN  BEETLE. 
( Odontota  rubra  Web. ) 
This  is  also  one  of  the  specie-  observed  by  Harris.     He  states 
that  he  discovered  the  larva'  in  1827  and  afterwards  feeding  upon  the 

a  Instructions  for  the  application  of  the  arsenical  poisons  against  the  ehn  leaf-beetle 
are  given  on  pages  3  and  4  of  Circular  No.  8  of  this  Division,  as  also  on  pages  10-12 
of  Farmers'  Bulletin  Xo.  99;  and  since  both  of  these  publications  can  readily  be 
obtained  by  .application  t>  this  Department,  i:o  further  instructions  need  be  given 
bere. 


84 


parenchyma  of  a  Leaf  of  white  oak.  A  description  of  the  larva  is 
given,  \\  ith  biologic  notes  (1.  c).  Since  that  time  this  species  (fig.  4) 
has  been  found  to  attack  numerous  other  plants,  and  the  writer  has 
already  expressed  the  opinion  that  the  foliage  of  linden,  or  basswood 
(TUia  americana),  is  the  favorite  food  tree.  Larva1  and  adults,  the 
former  mining  the  leaves  and  the  latter  feeding  on  the  lower  surface 
of  the  same,  can  be  found  in  abundance  at  Ithaca  and  elsewhere  in 
New  York  during  the  month  of  June,  the  imago  occurring  as  late  as 
September  (Proc.  Ent,  Soc.  Wash.,  Vol.  II,  pp.  266,  267). 

Among  other  food  plants  are  English  filbert  and  orange,  the  imago 
having  been  found  occasionally  attacking  the  leaves  of  the  last  men- 
tioned plant  in  Florida  by  the  late  H.  G.  Hubbard.  It  is  more  par- 
ticularly, however,  as  an  enemy  to  apple  that  this  species  has  received 
mention  by  Harris  (Ins.  Inj.  to  Veg.,  1863  ed.,  pp.  120,  121). 
Chokecherry  {Primus  virginiand)  is  also  recorded  as  the  food  plant 
by  Harris,  as  also  the  shadbush  or  service  berry 
(Amelanch  ier  canadensis). 

It  has  been  called  the  rosy  Hispa,  from  one  of 
the  Latin  names  (Hispa  rosea  Web.). 

According  to  published  statements  the  beetle 
makes  its  appearance  during  the  latter  part  of 
May,  and  soon  afterwards  deposits  its  eggs  on  the 
leaves  of  the  trees  which  form  its  larval  food 
plants.  The  eggs  are  described  as  small,  round, 
and  of  a  blackish  color,  fastened  to  the  surface  of 
the  leaf  either  singly  or  in  groups  of  four  or  five. 

In  most  respects  the  life  history  of  this  insect 
appears  to  resemble  very  closely  that  of  the  leaf- 
mining  locust  beetle.  Fortunately  it  seldom  oc- 
curs in  abundance  and  has  not  often  been  re- 
ported, to  the  writers  knowledge,  as  having  been 
the  source  of  any  considerable  trouble.  The  experience  of  Mr.  W.  L. 
Devereaux  at  Clyde,  N.  Y.,  cited  in  the  Fifth  Report  of  the  United 
States  Entomological  Commission  (p.  480),  that  this  insect  is  a  very 
conspicuous  pest  in  that  vicinity,  u  destroying  the  entire  foliage  of 
every  basswood  in  many  forests  except  trees  of  great  height,"  appears 
to  be  unique. 

Concerning  this  species  Mr.  William  Beutenmuller  writes  in  1890 
that  it  "mines  the  leaves  of  apple  and  linden."  The  perfect  insect  may 
also  be  found  on  white  birch,  horn  bean,  cherry,  Juneberry  (Amelan- 
chier),  and  Pyrus  arbutifolia  (Entom.  Amer.,  Vol.  VI,  p.  178). 


Fig.  A.—Odontota  rubra: 
beetle — about  seven 
times  enlarged  (origi- 
nal). 


Odontota  nervosa  Panz. 

This  common  little  species,  which  has  also  received  rather  frequent 
mention  under  its  two  synonyms,  in&qualis  Web.  and  rosea  Web.,  is 


85 


mentioned  by  Chambers  (Canadian  Ent.,  Vol.  IV,  1872,  p.  125)  as 
mining  the  leaves  of  Eupatorium  ageratoides,  one  of  the  bonesets.a 
During  the  season  of  1890  it  was  stated  by  Dr.  Hopkins  (Bui.  16, 
W.  Va.  Agric.  Ex.  Sta.,  p.  88)  to  be  "found  quite  plentifully  with 
the  locust  Hispa  feeding  upon  the  surface  of  the  leaf  [of  locust]," 
while  in  Bulletin  No.  32  of  the  same  station  (p.  202),  the  same  writer 
states  that  this  species  is  "very  common  on  yellow  locust  leaves;  also 
feeds  on  apple  leaves,"  recording  capture  of  the  adults  from  April  30 
to  July  16  in  Monongalia,  Wood.  Hancock,  and  Jackson  counties. 
During  1902  the  writer  also  observed  it  on  locust  in  Maryland,  and 
reared  the  beetles  from  mines  in  the  leaves.  There  is  also  a  Divisional 
record  of  the  rearing  of  this  leaf -beetle  on  a  species  of  aster  in  the 
District  of  Columbia,  July  29.  September  1,  1899,  Mr.  Th.  Pergande 
reared  it  also  from  Cassia  nietitdns. 

A  pale  variety  or  race  was  found  by  Messrs.  Hubbard  &  Schwarz 
feeding  in  great  abundance  on  the  leaves  of  Bobinia  neomexicana  in  the 
Santa  Rita  Mountains  of  southern  Arizona  during  the  months  of  May 
and  June,  but  no  trace  of  either  eggs  or  larvae  could  be  seen  on  this 
plant. 

Odontota  bicolor  01. 

This  species  is  not  rare  in  the  District  of  Columbia  and  vicinity,  but 
the  writer  has  frequently  sought  for  its  mines  on  various  wild  plants 
without  success.  It  remained  for  Mr.  Th.  Pergande  to  ascertain  its 
true  habits.  The  larva  mines  the  leaves  of  grasses,  Mr.  Pergande 
having  found  it  in  the  leaves  of  Panicum  macrocarpon  from  June  18 
to  26, 1899,  at  Cabin  John  Bridge,  Md.  The  first  beetle  issued  July  1. 
The  beetles  have  been  collected  by  the  writer  in  greatest  number  dur- 
ing the  second  and  third  weeks  of  June. 

Odontota  horni  Sm. 

Mr.  H.  W.  Wenzel  has  found  this  species  on  Cracca  [Tephrosia] 
vvrginiana,  a  papilionaceous  plant  commonly  known  as  goat's-rue,  at 
Da  Costa,  Atlantic  County,  N.  J.  (Ent.  News,  Vol.  V,  p.  41).  It  has 
been  found  also  near  Washington,  D.  C,  on  the  same  plant. 

Odontota  notata  01. 

This  species  was  also  taken  by  Mr.  Wenzel  on  Tephrosia  virgin  ana 
with  O.  Jwmi  previously  mentioned. 

It  is  common  near  Washington,  D.  C,  in  Virginia,  and  the  penir*sula 
of  Florida  in  localities  where  Tephrosia  is  absent.  Mr.  Scl.warz 
thinks  that  the  food  plant  will  prove  to  be  a  species  of  Solidago. 

"Mr.  Beuttenmiiller  (Ent,  Am.,  VI,  1890,  p.  178)  states  that  he  reared  this  species 
from  Eupatorium  and  asters. 


86 


Ol)(  IN  T<  VTA  OA!  iIFORNIOA  Horn. 

Tlif  larval  food  plant  of  this  species,  Ceanothus  integerrimus,  has 
been  placed  on  record  in  Volume  V  of  Insect  Life  (p.  269)  from  rear- 
ings  made  by  Mr.  Coquillett  while  agent  for  this  office  in  California. 
He  found  it  mining  the  leaves  of  this  plant,  and  reared  the  adult  in 
September. 

A  Chaleidid  was  also  reared  from  the  larva'  of  this  species. 

Odontota  scapularis  01. 

Nothing  appears  to  be  recorded  of  the  food  habits  of  this  species 
further  than  that  it  was  captured  on  a  species  of  hazel  (Corylus)  in 
Kansas  (E.  A.  Popenoe,  Trans.  Kan.  Acad.  Science,  Vol.  V,  1877,  p.  36). 
The  beetle  has  also  been  taken  on  Solidago  in  and  about  the  District 
of  Columbia,  but  the  larva'  have  apparently  not  yet  been  identified. 

Microrhopala  vittata  Fab. 

This  is  one  of  the  common  species  which  are  to  be  found  northward, 
and  was  observed  by  Harris  in  1833  on  the  leaves  of  Solidago  "Idevi 
gata"=semper/virens,  or  seaside  golden-rod.  The  account  in  question 
includes  a  description  and  figure  of  the  larva,  as  also  the  mature 
beetle.    What  were  presumed  to  be  the  eggs  were  also  described. 

The  larva,  which  has  been  observed  on  other  species  of  Solidago, 
including  lanceolata  and  canadensis,  forms  blister-like  mines  in  the 
leaves  much  like  those  of  other  species  of  the  same  group.  This 
insect  appears  to  be  most  abundant  upon  plants  growing  near  the  sea- 
shore and  along  the  river  banks,  and  is  quite  abundant  along  the  coast 
of  Massachusetts,  Long  Island,  and  New  Jersey.  It  is  common  but 
not  nearly  so  abundant  along  the  Potomac  River  and  its  branches  in 
and  near  the  city  of  Washington. 

The  eggs  have  been  found  near  the  tips  of  the  leaves  on  the  lower 
surface.  They  were  covered  with  a  brown  substance  evidently  excre- 
mental,  and  mixed  with  the  hairs  of  the  leaf. 

A  female  was  noticed  which  had  just  deposited  two  eggs,  May  13, 
at  Rosslyn,  Va.  She  was  at  this  time  quietly  resting,  head  downward 
with  the  tip  of  her  abdomen  just  touching  the  eggs. 

This  species  has  also  been  found  parasitized  by  a  Chaleidid. 

Microrhopala  xerene  JSfewm. 

This  attractive  little  species  occurs  in  considerable  abundance  in  the 
vicinity  of  the  District  of  Columbia  and  has  been  given  some  study  by 
the  author.  It  appears  to  have  a  somewhat  greater  diversity  of  food 
habits  than  the  innoxious  species  which  have  been  previously  con- 


87 


sidered,  this  being  especially  true  of  the  larva,  which  has  been  found 
mining  the  leaves  of  several  genera  of  Composite,  although  different 
species  of  golden-rod  appear  to  constitute  its  principal  food.  The 
plants  upon  which  the  larvae  have  been  observed  to  make  their  mines 
and  from  which  the  beetles  have  been  reared  include:  Solidago  cana- 
densis, C3esia,jtmcea,  et  al. ;  Boltonia  asteroides;  Sericocarpus  asteroides, 
or  toothed  white-topped  aster,  and  several  species  of  the  true  aster,  or 
starwort.  So  far  as  observed,  this  species  has  confined  its  attacks  to 
wild  plants,  but  as  the  Boltonia  mentioned  and  many  asters  are  culti- 
vated it  will  probably  be  found  to  attack  some  of  these  in  time. 

The  beetles  eat  out  little  elliptical  holes  in  the  leaves  of  their  food 
plants  after  the  manner  of  the  commoner  M.  vittata.  Frequently 
three  or  four  beetles  have  been  observed  crowded  closely  together 
upon  a  single  leaf  of  golden-rod.  In  such  cases  they  sometimes  nearly 
strip  the  leaf  attacked.  What  is  true  of  the  beetle  is  equally  true  of 
the  larvae.  Unlike  the  locust-mining  species,  as  many  as  four  larva? 
can  develop  in  a  single  large  leaf.  June  24  four  pupae  of  normal 
size  were  found  together  in  a  leaf  of  Solidago  caesia,  the  mine  occupy- 
ing about  three-fourths  of  the  apical  end  of  the  leaf. 

It  would  be  a  difficult  matter  to  describe  the  mines  accurately,  as 
these  are  so  variable  and,  as  previously  stated,  sometimes  occupy  a 
very  considerable  portion  of  a  leaf.  The  mine,  at  the  point  where  the 
pupal  cell  is  formed,  puffs  up  so  as  to  form  a  hard  blister,  more  or  less 
rounded  oval  in  shape,  usuall}7  a  little  over  an  eighth  of  an  inch  wide, 
which  sometimes  becomes  as  thick  through,  its  dimensions  being 
dependent  upon  the  number  of  individuals  which  inhabit  it. 

The  eggs,  as  might  readily  be  inferred  from  the  smaller  size  of  this 
beetle,  are  not  so  large  as  those  of  other  species  which  have  been 
described.  They  are  very  closely  appressed  to  the  surface  of  the  leaf 
on  which  they  are  deposited  and  are  covered  with  dark,  nearly  black, 
excrement,  sometimes  all  the  eggs  of  a  group  which  are  placed  closely 
together  being  covered  with  a  common  coating.  The  eggs  are  usually 
deposited  on  the  lower  side  of  a  leaf,  but  in  one  instance  a  batch  of 
five  eggs  were  found  on  the  upper  surface.  Most  frequently  they  are 
placed  near  the  edge,  sometimes  midway  between  the  tip  and  the  base 
of  a  leaf,  but  generally  above  the  middle. 

The  larvae  possess  the  same  power  as  do  those  of  the  locust-inhab- 
iting species  of  passing  from  one  leaf  to  another,  and  larvae  in  con- 
finement have  been  seen  in  the  da}Ttime  crawling  out  of  a  leaf  and 
re-entering  in  a  fresh  place.  Larvae  have  been  noticed  to  forsake  their 
mines  when  the  leaves  were  not  in  a  condition  that  was  entirely  to 
their  liking.  Such  desertion  of  mines  was  observed  on  one  occasion. 
June  16  all  of  the  larvae  transforming  to  pupae,  and,  in  due  time,  to 
adults,  the  first  imago  appearing  June  24. 


88 


The  pupal  condition  was  observed  in  three  individuals  during  the 
last  week  of  June,  in  hot  weather,  and  lasted  four  and  a  half,  five,  and 
five  and  a  half  days,  respectively.  From  finding  several  pupal  cells  as 
early  as  dune  10,  it  was  evident  that  the  first  of  the  new  brood,  or 
generation,  of  beetles  begins  to  appear  at  least  as  early  as  that  date. 

The  larvae  and  pupae  resemble  in  a  general  way  those  of  the  preced- 
ing species  and  no  detailed  descriptions  have  been  made.  The  larva 
when  full  grown  measures  from  6  to  6.5mm  and  the  pupa  about  5.5ram. 
It  was  noticed  that  the  pupa?  moved  by  elevating  the  abdominal  seg- 
ments and  bringing  forward  the  last  segment,  thus  giving  a  forward 
impetus.  The  pupa?  moved  slowly,  however,  at  the  rate  of  about  1.5mm 
at  each  step  (if  this  expression  can  be  used  to  describe  the  motion) 
which  is  as  fast  or  faster  than  the  pace  of  the  larvse.  Pupa?  were  noticed 
to  make  as  many  as  twent}7  consecutive  movements. 

No  less  than  four  distinct  parasites  have  been  reared  from  this  leaf- 
miner  about  the  District  of  Columbia.  All  are  Chalcidida\  and  the  list 
is  as  follows: 

Eurytoma  albitarsis  Ashm.,  from  mines  in  Solidago. 

Closterocerus  tricinctits  Ashm.,  from  a  mine  in  Sericocarpus  asteroides. 

Tetrastichiis  microrhopalde  Ashm. — A  large  series  was  raised  from 
the  dried  larval  skins,  July  7-14. 

Mesocrina  microrhopalde  Ashm. — A  single  example  reared  July  6 
from  a  white  cocoon  in  a  mine  of  this  beetle. 

A  single  example  of  the  beautiful  little  Hippocephalus  multicinctus 
also  issued  from  mined  leaves,  but  may  possibly  have  bred  from  some 
species  of  Tineidae  as  this  Chalcidid  is  known  to  live  parasitically  on 
this  order  of  insects  and  has  not  been  observed  to  attack  Coleoptera. 

MlCRORHOPALA  MELSHEIMERI  Or. 

Mr.  Henry  Ulke  found  a  specimen  of  this  beetle  in  an  ant's  nest  at 
Pen  Mar,  Pa.,  but  it  is  probable  that  this  was  an  accidental  capture. 
(Proc.  Ent.  Soc.  Wash.,  Vol.  I,  1890,  p.  248.) 

MlCRORHOPALA  FLORIDANA  ScllWOTZ. 

This  species  was  reared  by  Messrs.  Hubbard  and  Schwarz  at  Crescent 
City  and  Bartow  Junction,  Fla.,  from  larva?  found  mining  in  the 
terminal  portion  of  the  leaves  of  grass-leaved  golden  aster  (Chrysopsis 
graminifolia). 

OCTOTOMA  PLICATULA  Fab. 

The  Virginia  creeper,  Tecoma  radicans,  has  been  known  as  the  food 
plant  of  this  species  (fig.  5)  since  about  1879,  but  was  not  placed  on 
record  until  1890,  when  a  short  note  was  published  in  the  Proceedings 
of  the  Entomological  Society  of  Washington  (Vol.  I,  p.  232).  The  larva 
makes  a  tentiform  mine  in  the  leaves  of  this  plant,  and  the  imago  eats 


89 


Fig.  5. — Octotoma  plicatu- 
la:  beetle — about  seven 
times  natural  size  (orig- 
inal). 


oblong  holes  in  the  leaves.  It  is  somewhat  remarkable  that  the  food 
habits  of  this  species  had  been  overlooked,  as  far  as  published  records 
go,  until  that  time,  considering  that  the  insect  is  widely  distributed  and 
frequently  found  in  large  numbers.  The  plant 
has 'd  still  wider  distribution  than  the  beetle,  which 
is  proved  by  failure  to  find  it  upon  this  plant  in 
Michigan  and  in  central  and  southern  Florida,  as 
well  as  in  other  localities.  Even  in  the  A'icinity  of 
the  District  of  Columbia  the  species  is  local  and 
not  to  be  found  wherever  its  food  plant  occurs. 

May  25,  1879,  the  habits  of  this  species  were 
first  observed  by  Mr.  Schwarz  at  Columbus,  Tex. 
It  was  noticed  that  a  pupa  was  always  to  be  found 
in  a  pocket  adjoining  the  midrib.  The  beetle  feeds 
also  on  the  plant.  The  mines  consist  of  several 
sinuous  branches  starting  from  the  midrib,  these 
branches  being  of  varying  length  and  shape.  •  At 
the  end  toward  the  base  of  the  leaf  there  is  usually  an  oblong,  or 
nearly  oblong,  blackish  spot,  presumably  where  the  egg  has  been 
deposited  and  where  the  excrements  of  the  larvae  collect. 

OCTQTOMA  MARGIXICOLLIS  Rom. 

The  perfect  beetles  were  found  by  Messrs.  Hubbard  and  Schwarz  in 
great  numbers  riddling  the  entire  foliage  of  certain  small  ash  trees  in 
Madera  Canyon,  Sta.  Rita  Mountains,  in  southern  Arizona,  during  the 
months  of  May  and  June.  Neither  eggs,  larva?,  nor  larval  mines  were 
seen  on  the  trees  at  this  season,  and  it  would  seem  that  the  real  food 
plant  of  the  species  is  a  vine  or  some  other  plant  which  makes  its 
appearance  only  after  the  beginning  of  the  rain}'  season  toward  the 
end  of  July  or  in  August. 

Stexopodius  flavidus  Horn. 

From  various  structural  details  of  this  genus,  Dr.  Horn  suspected 
that  the  habits  of  the  only  species  would  prove  to  be  subaquatic. 
While  nothing  definite  has  been  ascertained  regarding  the  larval  habits, 
the  imagos  have  been  found  in  various  localities  remote  from  any  water, 
and  under  conditions  which  strongly  suggest  the  larval  food  plant. 
Near  Brownsville,  Tex.,  Mr.  Townsend  and  Mr.  Schwarz  found  a 
number  of  specimens  on  a  malvaceous  plant  which  appears  to  belong 
to  the  genus  Abutilon. 


90 


GENERAL  NOTES. 

ERRONEOUS   BELIEF   THAT  COMMON    NATIVE    LNSECTS  ARE  [NTRODUCED 
FROM  ABROAD  IN  SEED. 

Every  month  or  two  during  the  warm  season  we  receive  communi- 
cations from  farmers  in  various  portions  of  the  country,  more  particu- 
larly in  the  more  sparsely  settled  States  w  here  new  crops  are  being 
cultivated,  concerning  the  probable  introduction  from  abroad  of  many 
common  species  of  insects  in  seed  furnished  by  the  United  States 
Department  of  Agriculture  and  experiment  stations.  Such  a  commu- 
nication was  received  from  a  correspondent  in  Texas  who  had  never 
seen  the  Colorado  potato  beetle  there  before,  although  the  insect  has 
been  present  in  that  State  since  about  L882,  and  probably  earlier,  with 
the  remark  that  it  was  supposed  to  have  been  introduced  with  seed 
potatoes  from  Minnesota.  May  ^7.  1902,  another  correspondent  at 
Gainesville.  Cook  County,  Tex.,  wrote  in  regard  to  the  striped  cucum- 
ber beetle,  which  he  believed  had  been  introduced  with  seed  received 
from  this  Department.  In  response  to  inquiry  as  to  particulars,  he 
wrote,  that  although  for  twenty-five  years  he  had  had  experience  each 
year  with  nearly  all  the  vegetables  named  in  circular  No.  Hi  as  food 
plants  of  this  beetle,  he  had  never  seen  the  insect  before,  and  thinks 
it  impossible  for  it  to  have  been  present  oif  his  plants  without  his 
having  noticed  it.  Neither  had  any  of  his  neighbors  taken  notice  of 
this  insect.  It  seems  to  have  first  appeared  there  in  destructive  num- 
bers in  1902. 

CAPTURE  AND  POSSIBLE  INTRODUCTION  OF  THE  NUN  MOTH  IN  AMERICA. 

On  the  occasion  of  a  visit  to  Washington  by  Dr.  W.  J.  Holland,  a 
well-known  authority  on  Lepidoptera,  he  mentioned  the  fact  that  the 
nun  moth  (Psilura  monacha  Linn.)"  had  been  obtained  from  a  collector 
in  the  vicinity  of  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.  Mr.  George  Franck,  an  experi- 
enced collector  of  that  city,  was  referred  to  as  authority,  and  in  answer 
to  an  inquiry  for  the  particulars  of  the  capture  of  this  insect,  he  Avrote 
substantially  as  follows:  In  looking  over  a  small  collection  of  a  local 
collector  during  the  summer  of  1901,  he  found,  among  other  material, 
five  individuals  of  this  species,  identified  by  comparison  with  European 
specimens  of  which  he  possessed  a  number.  The  collector  in  question 
had  no  communication  with  others  than  Mr.  Franck.  from  whom  he 
obtained  material  in  exchange.  He  was  questioned  regarding  this 
species  and  its  occurrence,  and  Mr.  Franck  was  assured  that  the  speci- 
mens had  been  captured  at  light  in  Brooklyn.  No  other  person  who 
had  been  consulted  in  regard  to  this  species  knew  anything  of  itsoccur- 

«Also  frequently  mentioned  in  literature  as  IAparfo  monacha,  and  recently  placed 
by  Meyrick  in  the  same  genus  as  the  gypsy  moth,  Ocneria. 


91 


rencs  in  that  vicinity,  and  it  was  put  down  as  an  accidental  importa- 
tion, which  is  probably  the  truth.  The  collector  resides  in  a  district 
where  there  are  numerous  lumber  yards,  and  shipping  is  carried  on  to 
a  great  extent.  The  exact  location  is  described  as  being  around  North 
Second  street  and  Metropolitan  avenue,  near  a  creek  which  adjoins 
that  portion  of  the  bay  running  through  the  eastern  part  of  Brooklyn. 

As  only  live  of  the  insects  were  captured  it  does  not  necessarily 
imply  that  the  species  has  been  introduced,  but  we  may  have  here  a 
parallel  case  to  that  of  the  gypsy  moth,  which  was  known  to  have  been 
actually  introduced  in  this  country  twenty-five  years  before  it  attracted 
the  attention  of  economic  entomologists.  As  the  two  species  are 
related  and  have  similar  habits,  there  is  reason  to  believe  that  if  the  nun 
moth  does  become  permanently  located  in  the  vicinit}"  of  New  York, 
it  will  prove  a  national  calamity,  and  more  troublesome  even  than  the 
gypsy  moth,  as  it  will  be  difficult  to  deal  with  the  pest  in  such  a  local- 
it}'.  The  gypsy  moth  is  established  inland,  while  the  nun  moth,  if  it 
has  obtained  permanent  foothold  (which  may  not  be  ascertained  for  a 
number  of  years),  will  probably  have  spread  to  the  immediate  vicinity 
of  waterways  on  either  side.  It  is  a  matter  that  should  be  made  public 
at  once,  that  all  persons  interested  in  entomology  and  in  agriculture 
may  be  warned  to  keep  a  sharp  lookout  for  this  species  during  the 
coming  years.  The  Division  of  Entomology  should  be  notified  of  cap- 
tures of  anything  suspicious,  and  any  insect  suspected  of  being  the 
nun  moth  should  accompany  the  letters. 

ESTIMATED  LOSS  OCCASIONED  BY  THE  VARIEGATED  CUTWORM  IN  1900. 

In  looking  over  accounts  of  injuries  recently  occasioned  by  various 
well-known  species  of  noxious  insects,  the  writer  noticed  the  lack  of 
reliable  estimates  of  money  losses  sustained.  The  question  of  the 
extent  of  the  damage  due  to  the  ravages  of  the  variegated  cutworm 
(Peridroma  saucia)  in  1900  was  entirely  lost  sight  of  by  the  writer  as 
well  as  by  others  who  published  in  regard  to  injuries. 

Occasion  was  therefore  taken,  in  writing  Dr.  James  Fletcher. 
Dominion  entomologist  of  Canada,  to  make  inquiry  in  regard  to  injuries 
in  the  Dominion.  Through  him  we  obtained  information  from  Mr.  J.  R. 
Anderson,  deputy  minister  of  agriculture  for  the  province  of  British 
Columbia,  as  follows:  u  Replying  to  Mr.  Chittenden's  inquiry  as  to 
the  loss  from  the  variegated  cutworm  last  year — from  all  the  informa- 
tion obtainable  and  making  an  addition  for  unreported  districts,  the 
losses  foot  up  to  $168,000." 

Next,  Prof.  C.  V.  Piper  was  written  to  in  regard  to  damage  inflicted 
by  this  cutworm  in  the  State  of  Washington,  and  he  obtained  from 
Mr.  David  A.  Brodie  an  estimate  of  $1,012,500  in  western  Washington, 
this  being  based  upon  the  estimate  of  damage  in  British  Columbia.  In 
commenting  on  this,  Professor  Piper  stated  that  he  could  well  believe 


92 


the  loss  in  Washington  to  be  ten  times  as  great  as  that  in  British 
Columbia,  that  is,  $1,680,000. 

In  Oregon,  Prof.  A.  B.  Cordley,  entomologist  of  the  experiment 
station  at  Corvallis,  placed  injuries  at  the  modest  estimate  of  $50,000. 

If  to  the  estimated  damage  in  British  Columbia  we  add  the  injury 
which  was  accomplished  in  the  Provinces  of  Ontario  and  Manitoba, 
there  will  be  no  difficulty  in  raising  the  figures  for  the  Dominion  to 
$200,000.  Then  it  must  be  remembered  that  isolated  instances  of 
injury  were  also  reported  in  various  States,  for  instance,  in  California, 
Texas,  Missouri,  Kansas,  West  Virginia,  Illinois,  Maryland,  Virginia, 
and  the  District  of  Columbia.  Taking  all  data  into  consideration, 
accounting  for  many  localities  from  which  no  reports  were  received, 
admitting  that  this  species  was  undoubtedly  responsible  for  much 
injury  merely  attributed  to  cutworms  in  general  and  not  reported  to 
any  official  entomologist,  also  that  it  is  cosmopolitan  and  practically 
omnivorous,  it  would  seem  that  an  estimate  of  $2,500,000  would  not 
be  too  high  as  the  total  cash  value  of  crops  injured  in  the  United  States 
during  the  single  season  of  1900. — F.  H.  C. 

OCCURRENCE    OF    THE    MEDITERRANEAN    FLOUR  MOTH  IN  MINNESOTA, 
WISCONSIN,  AND  MICHIGAN. 

During  the  past  two  years  several  complaints  have  been  made  to 
this  office  of  trouble  occasioned  by  the  presence  of  the  Mediterranean 
Hour  moth  {Ephestia  Tcuehniella  Zell.)  in  flouring  establishments  and 
warehouses  in  Milwaukee,  Wis.;  in  Minneapolis,  and  neighboring 
cities  in  Minnesota;  and  quite  recently  in  Detroit,  Mich.  Through 
other  sources  of  information  we  have  knowledge  of  the  insect  spread- 
ing to  neighboring  States  and  being  further  disseminated  in  other 
States  where  it  has  alread}7  been  established  for  some  time;  in  fact,  it 
is  apparent  that  it  is  now  only  a  matter  of  a  few  years  when  this  insect 
will  become  permanently  established  in  most  portions  of  the  Union 
where  milling  is  an  important  industry.  All  communications  were 
accompanied  by  specimens,  usually  with  all  stages  of  the  insect,  in 
infested  flour  webbed  up  in  the  manner  characteristic  of  this  species. 

February  23,  1901,  Mr.  George  W.  Peckham  wrote  of  the  injurious 
occurrence  of  the  pest  at  Milwaukee,  Wis.,  transmitting  material 
received  from  a  gentleman  largely  interested  in  flour  mills  in  that 
vicinity  who  had  experienced  a  great  deal  of  trouble  with  it.  April 
20  Mr.  Harry  D.  Cushman,  Minneapolis,  Minn.,  stated  that  although 
he  was  not  aware  that  mills  in  that  city  were  badly  infested  with  this 
moth,  he  understood  that  some  mills  in  Superior  had  to  close  because 
of  infestation.  The  modern  system  of  keeping  the  mills  scrupulously 
clean,  not  permitting  dust  or  dirt  to  accumulate,  and  the  turning  of 
the  stock  of  grain  and  its  products  every  few  days,  had  eliminated  to  a 


93 


great  extent  the  trouble  that  had  previously  been  experienced.  Our 
correspondent  believed  that  this  statement  would  apply  to  the  larger 
mills,  at  least,  of  his  locality.  November  20,  a  correspondent  at  Balls 
Ferry,  Shasta  County,  Cal.,  reported  this  flour  pest  in  that  vicinity. 
This  appears  to  be  a  new  locality  in  California,  although  the  species  is 
rather  more  widely  distributed  there  than  in  any  other  State  of  the 
Union. 

January  28, 1902,  the  president  of  a  flour  company  at  San  Francisco, 
Cal.,  wrote  in  regard  to  the  Mediterranean  flour  moth  in  that  city.  In 
putting  up  breakfast  cereals  his  firm  had  been  seriously  annoyed  by  the 
eggs  and  larvae  of  the  moth  developing  several  weeks  from  the  time  of 
packing.  He  said  that  the  food  material  in  question  could  be  exposed  to 
a  temperature  of  2123  F.  or  thereabouts  without  serious  damage.  J  une 
30  a  merchant  miller,  of  Detroit,  Mich. ,  sent  this  species  in  flour  from  a 
mill  in  that  city.  He  was  anxious  to  obtain  information  in  regard  to 
the  use  of  hydrocyanic-acid  gas,  as  the  insurance  companies  refused  to 
grant  permission  for  the  use  of  bisulphid  of  carbon  as  a  f  umigant.  Two 
years  earlier  it  was  reported  that  one  mill  in  Detroit  was  infested  by 
this  insect,  and  it  was  surmised  that  the  present  invasion  was  due  to 
the  introduction  of  wheat  or  secondhand  bags  from  the  Northwest,  with 
little  doubt  from  Milwaukee  and  Minneapolis,  where  this  species  as 
just  reported  is  now  known  to  be  present  in  great  numbers.  It  is  now 
said  that  nearh'  all  the  mills  in  those  two  cities  are  completely  over- 
run with  this  pest. 

THE  ANGOUMOIS  GRAIN  MOTH  IX  1901. 

In  spite  of  the  employment  of  precautionary  as  well  as  remedial 
measures  that  have  been  generally  used  against  the  Angoumois  grain 
moth  (Sitotroga  cerealella  Zell.)  in  the  more  northern  States  in  which 
it  is  found,  it  continues  to  be  injurious  year  by  }Tear,  and  it  seems  to 
be  as  troublesome  now  as  ever,  if,  indeed,  not  more  so.  The  follow- 
ing notes  are  extracts  from  correspondence  during  the  year  1901.  In 
nearly  every  instance  specimens  of  the  insect  accompanied  the  letters. 

February  8  we  received  word  from  the  Larrowe  Milling  Company. 
New  York  City,  that  this  species  was  a  general  pest  throughout  New 
Jersey  and  eastern  Pennsylvania. 

On  the  27th  of  the  same  month  Mr.  James  R.  Kirby,  Smiths 
Grove,  Ky.,  wrote  that  the  farmers  of  that  vicinity  were  seriously 
troubled  by  this  species. 

March  4  Mr.  William  J.  Haverly,  Los  Angeles,  Cal.,  complained 
of  injury  to  the  seeds  of  held  corn. 

September  28  Mr.  Horace  L.  Dilworth  reported  this  species  as 
doing  great  damage  to  wheat  in  the  neighborhood  of  Centerville,  Del. 

October  17  Mr.  Walter  Geist,  Shawan,  Md.,  who  runs  a  thrashing 


94 


machine,  stated  that  in  some  places  in  that  vicinity  grain  was  very 
badly  infested, 

November  L3,  1901,  Mr.  C.  8.  Scofield,  of  the  Bureau  of  Plant  Indus- 
try, exhibited  specimens  of  wheat  badly  infested  by  the  Angoumois 
grain  moth,  received  from  Mr.  Charles  Dunwoody,  Philadelphia,  Pa., 
who  stated  that  his  firm  had  handled  through  its  warehouse  about 
30,000  bushels  of  this  year's  crop  which  showed  the  work  of  this  insect. 
It  was  noticed  that  the  insect  had  been  gradually  working  a  little 
farther  west  each  year.  Early  threshing  had  been  the  principal  remedy 
employed.  All  varieties  of  winter  wheat  and  rye  appeared  to  be  infested 
alike.  The  ravages  of  this  insect  had  first  been  noticed  about  four  or 
live  years  previous  to  the  date  of  writing,  and  had  been  increasing  from 
year  to  year  since.  Mr.  Dunwoody  stated  that  the  greatest  damage 
was  at  that  time  reported  from  the  counties  of  Delaware,  Chester,  and 
Montgomery,  in  Penns}Tlvania;  as  well  as  in  some  sections  of  western 
New  Jersey.  Nearly  twro-thircls  of  the  grain  in  the  regions  mentioned 
appeared  to  be  infested,  and  it  was  estimated  that  the  damage  was 
about  20  per  cent  of  the  value  of  infested  lots.  Mr.  Dunwoody  asserted 
that  field-threshed  grain  is  seldom  infested,  but  that  nearty  all  grain 
wThich  goes  through  the  "  sweat"  in  barns  is  more  or  less  affected. 

From  Kev.  J.  F.  Sheppard,  Conshohocken,  Pa.,  we  received  informa- 
tion, under  date  of  November  29,  that  this  insect  was  ravaging  granaries 
in  that  vicinity. 

December  19  Mr.  Theodore  C.  Search,  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  reported 
that  this  species  was  very  destructive  to  the  wheat  crop  of  Bucks 
County,  Pa.  In  a  badly  infested  sample  from  Chester  Count}^,  Pa., 
he  stated  that  the  wdieat  weighed  only  38  pounds  to  the  bushel,  and 
was  worth  for  feeding  purposes  60  cents  per  bushel  of  60  pounds  on 
our  present  market.  This  same  variety  of  wheat,  if  sound  and  in 
good  condition  for  milling  purposes,  would  bring  78  cents.  Later  he 
wrote  that  one  reason  wiry  the  Angoumois  grain  moth  is  so  destructive 
in  certain  portions  of  Pennsylvania  is  the  fact  that  in  the  vicinity  of 
Philadelphia  the  farmers  prefer  to  thresh  their  grain  during  the  winter 
season  at  odd  times. 

In  one  sample  of  wheat  from  Penns}Tlvania  infested  b}r  this  moth 
many  specimens  of  a  parasite  occurred;  in  fact,  in  this  lot  the  moths 
were  almost  completely  killed  off,  only  one  breeding  out  in  the  course 
of  three  weeks,  the  parasites  occurring  in  the  proportion  of  something 
like  50  to  1.  The  parasite  having  a  somewmat  novel  appearance,  it 
was  referred  to  Mr.  W.  H.  Ashmead,  of  the  National  Museum,  who 
states  that  it  is  undescribed.    It  is  a  species  of  Catolaccus. 

RECENT  INJURY  BY  THE  CIGARETTE  BEETLE. 

More  complaints  were  received  of  injury  by  the  cigarette  beetle 
(LasiooZerma  serricorne  Fab.)  during  the  seasons  of  1901  and  1902  than 


95 


ever  before  in  its  history;  judging  by  correspondence,  this  insect  is 
rapidly  widening  its  range,  and  unless  radical  measures  are  taken  by 
the  individuals  whose  products  suffer  from  its  attack,  the  insect  will 
undoubtedly  continue  to  increase  and  spread  and  will  soon  become  a 
species  of  the  highest  economic  importance.  Complaints  of  injury 
were  received  from  different  firms,  mostly  tobacconists,  wholesale  and 
retail,  in  New  York  City;  Baltimore,  Md. ;  District  of  Columbia;  Dan- 
ville.Va.;  Cincinnati.  Ohio;  Detroit.  Mich. ;  Porto  Rico;  and  Kingston, 
Jamaica.  The  insect  was  the  subject  of  considerable  correspondence 
from  the  Localities  mentioned.  In  most  cases  destruction  was  to 
tobacco,  but  certain  other  products  were  affected. 

During  February  we  received  complaint  from  one  of  Cincinnati's 
largest  department  stores  of  injury  to  cigarette  tobacco.  September  21 
a  manufacturer  and  importer  of  cigars  in  New  York  Citv  complained 
of  this  species,  stating  that  the  beetles  were  in  every  can  of  tobacco 
received  from  a  certain  firm.  They  were  eating  through  the  wrap- 
pers of  cigars.  October  10  complaint  was  made  of  considerable  injury 
by  this  insect  to  upholstered  furniture  in  department  stores  at  Detroit, 
Mich.  The  insects  were  stated  to  be  infesting  the  very  best  furniture 
in  one  house.  In  the  latter  days  of  October  Mr.  Frank  D.  Gardner, 
agent  in  charge  of  the  experiment  station  at  Porto  Rico,  stated  that 
cigar  dealers  in  San  Juan  had  considerable  trouble  in  keeping  their 
stock  for  any  length  of  time  on  account  of  the  cigarette  beetle  boring 
holes  in  the  cigars  and  practically  ruining  them.  November  13  a  cigar 
dealer  at  Baltimore.  Md.,  stated  that  his  firm  had  lost  about  700  of 
their  best  cigars  through  the  attacks  of  this  insect. 

During  July.  1901.  complaint  was  made  by  a  large  wholesale  and 
retail  tobacco  establishment  in  the  city  of  Washington  of  injury  by 
this  beetle,  and  an  opportunity  was  afforded  for  disinfecting  the  estab- 
lishment infested  by  means  of  bisulphid  of  carbon.  This  work  was 
undertaken  by  Mr.  W.  E.  Hinds,  temporary  assistant  in  this  Division. 
The  results  of  these  experiments,  which  were  eminently  satisfactory, 
were  published  in  Bulletin  No.  30,  new  series,  (pp.  78-82).  This  led  to 
a  further  study  of  carbon  bisulphid  as  an  insecticide  and  to  the  treat- 
ment of  this  topic  in  a  general  manner.  The  results  of  further  study 
and  investigation  have  found  expression  in  Farmers*  Bulletin  145.  pre- 
pared by  Mr.  Hinds  with  the  cooperation  of  Mr.  E.  £.  Ewell,  assistant 
chemist  of  this  Department.  The  cigarette  beetle  was  also  found  b}r 
Mr.  J.  Kotinskv.  of  this  office,  in  a  pharmacy  at  Washington.  D.  C, 
affecting  American  saffron. 

January  23,  1902,  complaint  was  received  from  a  prominent  cigar 
manufacturer  of  New  York  City  of  injuries  by  this  insect.  April  9 
Mr.  H.  H.  Cousins,  island  chemist,  of  Kingston,  Jamaica,  requested 
information  on  dealing  with  the  cigarette  beetle,  which  he  stated  threat- 
ened the  tobacco  trade  of  Jamaica. 


96 


In  practically  all  of  the  instances  of  attack  that  have  beeD  mentioned 
letters  of  complaint  were  accompanied  by  specimens  of  the  insects  at 
work  in  tobacco  or  other  products  affected. 

INJURIOUS  OCCURRENCE  OF  AN  EXOTIC  DERMESTI I)  IN  THE  UNITED 

STATES. 

Among  the  beetles  of  the  genus  Dermestes,  treated  by  Dr.  Horace 
F.  Jayne  in  his  paper  entitled  "A  revision  of  the  Dermestidae  of  the 
United  States"  (Proceedings  American  Philosophical  Societ}^  Vol. 
XX,  1883,  p.  353),  D.  cadaverinus  Fab.  is  included,  Florida  being 
given  as  its  only  locality.  Correspondence  during  September,  1901, 
shows  not  alone  that  this  species  is  apparently  established  in  this  coun- 
try in  New  York  City,  but  that  it  is  probably  an  exotic  form,  perhaps 
originating  in  China. 

September  6,  1901,  the  Clifton  Silk  Mills,  town  of  Union,  N.  J., 
sent  specimens  of  this  species,  with  accompanying  information  that 
the  beetles  and  their  larvae  were  found  in  bales  of  dried  China  silk- 
worm cocoons  imported  from  Shanghai  for  reeling.  Many  of  the 
beetles  were  noticed  at  this  time  wandering  about  among  the  cocoons, 
and  a  lesser  number  of  larva?.  A  friend  of  our  correspondents  having 
a  silk-reeling  establishment  in  France  said  that  this  (or  perhaps  a 
related)  species  emerged  from  the  cocoons  when  the  latter  were  kept 
in  moist  places.  Another  friend  interested  in  silk  culture  stated  that 
he  found  the  larvae  or  ' 1  worms "  in  bales  of  reel  silk,  and  that  they 
cut  the  silk  as  with  a  knife,  establishing  themselves  generally  beside 
the  cords  which  tie  the  bundles,  and  working  their  wa}^  along  the 
grooves  made  by  the  cords,  cutting  the  skeins  as  they  go.  He  recol- 
lected that  larvae  had  been  occasionally  found  in  Italian  silk. 

Our  correspondents  stated  that  the  beetles  made  short  flights,  but 
were  disinclined  to  use  their  wings. 

September  14  our  correspondents  called  attention  to  the  small  clean 
holes  made  by  the  insects  in  the  cocoons,  in  contrast  to  that  made  by 
the  silkworm  moth,  which  in  emerging  makes  a  ragged  hole,  stained 
brown  for  some  distance  in  from  the  edges.  It  was  further  stated 
that  in  France,  where  this  species  is  found  in  reeling  establishments 
in  raw  silk,  that  when  the  packing  of  the  silk  was  done  near  w7here 
the  cocoons  were  stored  infestation  was  noticed.  B}r  removing  the 
packing  department  to  a  distance  from  the  cocoons  this  trouble  was 
averted. 

September  25,  1901,  the  Payne  Spring  Tanning  Company,  Cumber- 
land, Md.,  sent  specimens  of  this  beetle  with  sample  of  leather  received 
from  a  tanner  in  New  York  City,  showing  holes  through  which  the 
beetles  had  bored.  Our  correspondents  stated  that  the  leather  was 
rolled  in  bundles  of  12  and  24  sides  each,  and  upon  opening  the  same 
they  found  that  the  leather  had  numerous  holes  in  it  about  the  size 


97 


that  would  be  made  by  large  shot.  According  to  their  description, 
the  beetle  or  its  larva  would  start  on  one  side  and  cut  a  bole  through 
an  entire  bundle  of  leather.  An  attempt  to  disinfect  the  leather  with 
carbolic  acid  had  no  apparent  effect. 

Writing  again  September  28.  this  company  stated  that  there  was  little 
doubt  that  the  leather  became  infested  in  a  hide  house  in  New  York 
C  ity  where  it  had  been  stored  for  some  time,  and  where  large  quantities 
of  foreign  hides  are  handled.  Damage  of  the  nature  mentioned  was 
common  in  foreign  dry  hides,  but  oar  correspondents  had  never  known 
of  domestic  tanned  leather  being  attacked  in  this  manner  before. 

All  of  the  material  received  from  the  New  Jersey  and  Maryland 
correspondents  from  silkworm  cocoons  and  leather,  respectively,  was 
referred  to  Mr.  E.  A.  Schwarz.  who  pronounced  the  species  D<  rmestes 
cadcv&erinus  Fab.  This  species  is  comparatively  rare  in  the  United 
States,  as  Dr.  Jayne's  note  on  its  distribution  **  merely  occurs  in  Flor- 
ida "  would  indicate:  but  it  is  one  of  the  many  species  which  affect  stored 
material,  and  which  are  thus  destined  in  time  to  become  cosmopolitan. 

EEMEDIKS. 

The  best  remedy  for  these  insects,  when  they  occur  in  leather  and 
similar  substances,  is  undoubtedly  the  bisulphid  of  carbon,  and  this 
should  be  freely  used  where  the  insects  are  most  abundant.  Where  it 
is  possible  to  remove  leather  to  tight  rooms,  it  can  be  disinfected  in  the 
usual  manner:  but  where  this  cannot  be  conveniently  done  it  is  more 
advisable  to  disinfect  entire  rooms  in  the  storehouse  infested.  Silk  and 
cocoons  can  be  even  more  readily  reached  by  the  use  of  bisulphid  of 
carbon,  and  this  applies  to  the  fumigation  of  entire  rooms;  but  the 
hydrocyanic-acid  gas  treatment  can  also  be  employed.  This  latter 
is  useful  where  insurance  companies  object  to  the  use  of  bisulphid  of 
carbon  on  account  of  its  inflammability.  Directions  for  the  use  of  bisul- 
phid of  carbon  are  given  in  Farmers*  Bulletin  145.  and  for  fumigation 
with  hydrocyanic-acid  gas  in  Circular  -±6  (second  series),  both  of  which 
publications  can  be  obtained  by  application  to  this  office. — F.  H.  C. 

SOME  BLISTER  BEETLES  INJURIOUS  TO  FRUIT  TREES. 

For  many  years  past  blister  beetles  of  three  or  four  species  have 
been  reported  at  intervals  as  doing  more  or  less  destruction  to  the 
foliage  of  various  fruit  trees  in  different  portions  of  our  country.  The 
bisects  in  question  are  quite  different  from  the  common  species  of 
blister  beetles  found  in  potato  patches  and  in  fields  and  gardens  gen- 
erally. They  are  strictly  arboreal,  while  the  latter  are  terrestrial. 
Some  accounts  of  recent  injury  may  be  of  interest,  together  with  the 
accompanying  illustration  of  one  of  our  best-known  forms.  All  of 
these  insects  are  handsome  creatures  of  graceful  form,  and  in  color 
different  shades  of  green  or  olive  with  yellow  or  yellow  and  black  legs. 
3622— So.  38—04  7 


98 


Say's  blister  beetle  (Pontphopim  myt  Lee,  fig.  6). — April  29, 
L901,  Mr.  R.  J.  Black,  Bremen,  Ohio,  sent  specimens,  as  did  the  other 
correspondents  who  will  presently  be  mentioned  in  connection  with 
this  and  other  species,  stating  that  the  beetles  were  found  in  great 
numbers  devouring  blossoms  of  Japan  plum.  The  species  had  not 
been  noticed  in  previous  years,  and  other  varieties  of  plum,  cherry, 
and  peach  were  not  affected.  May  13  Mr.  C.  W.  Nash,  Toronto, 
Canada,  also  reported  this  species  on  plum  doing  great  damage  to  the 
blossoms. 

The  pear-tree  blister  beetle  (PompJiopcea  senea  Say). — May  1, 
1901,  Mr.  Joseph  Hampson,  jr.,  reported  this  species  to  be  destroying 
the  petals,  stamens,  and  pistils  of  pear  blossoms  at  Pen  Mar,  Pa.  An 
invasion  of  this  species  on  pear  was  recorded  as  occurring  in  central 
eastern  Ohio  in  1894  (Ins.  Life,  Vol.  VII,  p.  201).    In  1898  and  1899  it 

was  reported  to  be  destroying  the  blos- 
soms of  }Toung  plum  at  Wooster,  Ohio, 
and  Tazewell,  Tenn. 

The  Texas  plum  blister  beetle 
(Pomphop<m  texana  Lee). —March  18, 
1902,  Mr.  David  Hunter,  San  Antonio, 
Tex.,  wrote  of  the  occurrence  of  this 
blister  beetle  on  plum  in  that  vicinity. 
Six  years  earlier  our  correspondent  had 
noticed  this  beetle  feeding  on  Chicka- 
saw plum  in  Blanco  County  of  the  same 
State. 

The  peach  blister  beetle  (Pom- 
phopma  unguicularis  Lee). — April  8, 
1902,  Mr.  Franklin  Sherman,  jr.,  wrote 
Fig.  g. — Pomphopoxi  sayi:  beetle — 1\  times   0f  the  occurrence  of  this  blister  beetle 

natural  size  (original).  ^  filowing  Rqc^  N#  qu  wiM  moun. 

tain  laurel,  devouring  both  blossoms  and  leaves.  It  occurred  there 
literally  by  thousands,  attacking  also  peach  trees,  eating  those  which 
had  previously  been  attacked  by  leaf  curl.  The  beetles  also  affected 
cultivated  roses  to  such  an  extent  that  one  owner  had  to  resort  to 
spraying  to  save  them.  In  Volume  VI  of  Insect  Life  (p.  36)  we 
recorded  the  occurrence  of  this  species  in  immense  numbers  at  White- 
sides,  N.  C,  where  they  denuded  the  locust,  Rolinia  viscosa,  of  foliage. 
This  was  at  an  elevation  of  5,000  feet  above  sea  level,  and  occurred  in 
1893. 

Remedies.—  All  of  these  blister  beetles  undoubtedly  feed,  in  nature, 
on  the  blossoms  of  wild  fruits,  such  as  plum,  mountain  laurel,  and  the 
like.  On  low  trees  it  is  not  difficult  to  control  them  by  hand-picking. 
On  higher  trees  they  can  be  destroyed  by  means  of  a  spray  of  Paris 
green  applied  in  the  usual  manner.  On  peach,  however,  arsenate  of 
lead  is  best,  owing  to  the  danger  of  scorching  the  tender  foliage  of 


99 


that  tree.  Another  manner  of  holding  them  in  check  is  by  jarring 
them  upon  curculio-catchers,  which  can  be  constructed  by  means  of 
a  sheet  stretched  and  held  taut  on  a  frame.  If  this  catcher  is  saturated 
with  kerosene  such  insects  as  come  in  contact  with  it  will  die.  As  to 
the  success  of  these  remedies,  Mr.  Hunter,  writing  of  the  Texas  species, 
states  that  it  was  easily  destroyed  by  hand-picking,  as  the  beetles  were 
not  readily  disturbed,  while  Mr.  Nash,  writing  of  Say's  blister  beetle, 
states  that  arsenicals  could  not  be  applied  owing  to  the  danger  of 
killing  bees. — F.  H.  C. 

NOTES  ON  VIXE-CHAFERS. 

Recent  years  have  witnessed  considerable  injury  locally  and,  as 
usual,  periodically  to  grapevine  and  the  foliage  and  blossoms  of  vari- 
ous fruit  trees  by  some  species  of  beetles  of  the  genus  Anomala.  Of 
the  dozen  described  forms  of  this  genus,  four  are  known  to  affect  the 
grape;  hence  the  name  of  vine-chafer,  which  is  rather  commonly 
bestowed  on  them. 

Anomala  >i,,</iil<it<i  Mels. — This,  one  of 
the  commonest  species,  has  been  reported 
during  the  last  two  years  at  Gadsden,  Ala., 
and  Tazewell,  Tenn.  In  the  first  locality 
the  beetles  were  first  noticed  by  Mr.  C.  W. 
Ewing,  April  10  at  sunset,  flying  in  great 
numbers  from  a  valley  below  and  settling 
on  peach  trees,  where  they  ate  both  blos- 
soms and  leaves.  In  the  latter  locality. 
Mr.  H.  Y.  Hughes  observed  the  beetles 
destroying  buds,  bloom,  and  young  fruit 
of  cherrv.    In  earlier  vears  we  have  re-    FlG-  i-^nomaia  muiuiata:  beetle-- 

"        *  *  .  four  times  natural  size  (original). 

corded  the  occurrence  of  this  species  as 

injurious  to  the  blossoms  of  grape,  apple,  and  pear  at  Grand  Bay, 
Ala.,  and  to  grape  at  Greenville,  S.  C. 

The  life  history  of  this  species  is  in  some  respects  like  that  of  the 
common  rose  chafer,  which  is  treated  in  Circular  No.  11  of  this  Divi- 
sion. The  beetle,  however,  is  quite  different  in  appearance.  It  is 
shown  in  fig.  7.  The  color  is  shining  pale  yellow,  with  the  thorax 
mostly  black,  and  the  elytra  or  wing  covers  spotted  with  black,  much 
as  illustrated,  the  pattern,  however,  being  quite  variable. 

Anomala  margmata  Fab.— This,  the  margined  vine-chafer  has  been 
quite  destructive  recently  at  Carterton,  Va.  Dr.  E.  K.  Harding 
reports  that  it  occurred  in  June,  1900,  about  the  middle  of  the  month, 
and  did  considerable  damage  to  cherry  and  Japan  walnut,  but  did  not 
trouble  the  vine.  Many  holes  were  found  in  the  earth  under  the  trees, 
and  when  the  beetles  were  shaken  off  they  disappeared  into  the  ground, 
an  occurrence  which  led  our  correspondent  to  infer  that  eggs  might 
be  deposited  in  the  earth  from  which  the  larva?  would  hatch.    This  is 


100 


probably  true.  The  beetles,  like  the  rose  chafer,  were  seen  in  copu- 
lation at  any  hour  during  the  day.  Subsequent  observations  showed 
that  these  beetles  also  occurred  in  abundance  on  sycamore  and  that 
they  even  relished  the  acrid  foliage  on  black  walnut. 

The  beetles  also  resembled  the  rose  chafer  in  their  sudden  appear- 
ance, their  time  of  activity  (about  one  month),  and  their  equally  sud- 
den disappearance  at  the  end  of  that  time. 

Anqmala  m  in  uta  Burm. — The  black  form  of  this  species  was  received 
May  2,  1901,  from  Mr.  B.  H.  Frazier,  Fruitdale.  Ala.,  where  it  was 
observed  working  on  young  peach  and  plum  trees  set  out  that  spring. 
The  beetles  burrowed  in  the  ground  around  the  trees  to  a  depth  of 
1  to  3  inches  into  the  moist  earth.  They  ate  only  the  young, 
tender  leaves.  It  was  also  noticed  that  they  seemed  to  be  most 
numerous  in  the  drier  and  sandier  soil  of  that  vicinity,  which  suggests 
that  the  larva?  probably  fed  on  grasses  grown  in  such  locations. 

While  writing  of  the  habits  of  these  vine  chafers  it  may  be  well  to 
add  that  on  one  occasion  ^i.  unchdata  was  observed  affecting  growing 
wheat,  in  another  case  attacking  petunias,  and  in  still  another  affect- 
ing grape.  A.  marginata  is  most  commonly  found  on  the  vine,  as  is 
also  minuta.  A.  Jucicola  is  also  a  grape-feeding  species,  and  biriotata 
has  been  found  on  the  grape  as  well  as  on  strawberry  and  locust. 

Remedies. — In  the  treatment  of  these  vine  chafers  we  have  prac- 
tically the  same  problem,  in  many  cases,  as  in  dealing  with  the  rose 
chafer.  The  beetles  f requently  occur  in  such  numbers  and  devour  the 
leaves  of  young  and  tender  fruit  trees  so  rapidly  that  Paris  green 
does  not  produce  the  desired  effects.  In  ordinary  cases,  however,  an 
arsenical  spray  is  sufficient  for  their  destruction.  Dr.  Harding  has 
met  with  good  success  both  with  spraying  and  with  shaking  the  beetles 
off  and  burning  them,  in  much  the  same  manner  as  described  in  con- 
nection with  the  blister  beetles  which  affect  fruit  trees. — F.  H.  C. 

THE  COLORADO  POTATO  BEETLE  IX  THE  SOUTH. 

We  have  recently  received  information  from  many  correspondents 
in  Southern  localities  furnishing  evidence  that  the  Colorado  potato 
beetle  (Doryphora  10-lineata  Say)  has  been  making  a  general  effort  to 
extend  its  range  southward.  Such  migration  has  been  noticed  for  a 
number  of  years  past,  but  has  never  been  so  noticeable  as  during  the 
season  of  1901.  The  species  will  doubtless  continue  to  spread  south- 
ward until  it  is  overcome  by  natural  enemies  or  perhaps  killed  out  by 
the  weather.  It  has  been  noticed  that  this  species  has  been  destroyed 
in  great  numbers  during  severe  dry  spells,  such  as  was  experienced 
during  the  summer  of  1900,  the  larvae  being  literally  dried  up  on  their 
food  plants. 

Our  first  information  in  regard  to  recent  spread  by  this  species  was 
from  Mr.  N.  L.  Willet,  of  Augusta.  Ga.  For  the  first  time  in  his 
remembrance,  that  section  was  being  devastated.    He  wrote,  May  12, 


101 


1900,  that  within  a  radius  of  about  loO  miles  the  country  was  being- 
devastated,  his  drug  firm  receiving  daily  orders  from  railroads  radi- 
ating from  the  city  for  Paris  green,  more  of  this  insecticide  being 
sold  in  the  previous  week  than  in  the  preceding  four  years.  The 
opinion  was  expressed  that  in  future  the  inhabitants  of  that  region 
might  have  to  count  upon  this  beetle  as  one  of  the  expected  annual 
arrivals  in  spring.  The  country  round  about  appeared  to  be  alive 
with  them. 

May  14.  1901,  Maj.  Harry  Hammond  wrote  of  this  species  and  its 
destruction  of  potatoes  in  the  vicinity  of  Beech  Island,  S.  C.  May  21 
Mr.  John  Conner,  Ripley,  Tenn.,  wrote  of  injury  in  Lauderdale 
County.  The  insects  were  first  noticed  about  the  middle  of  May, 
and  by  the  end  of  the  month  early  potatoes  were  entirely  stripped  of 
their  leaves.  A  similar  report  of  injury  was  received  from  Mr.  Albert 
E.  Seddon,  Atlanta,  (la..  May  -J^>. 

Mr.  J.  P.  Rudulph,  Pleasant  Hill,  Ala.,  wrote  May  27  that  the  Colo- 
rado potato  beetle  made  its  first  appearance  in  that  locality  that  year, 
but  the  timely  application  of  Paris  green  checked  its  ravages. 

June  1  we  received  a  communication  from  Mr.  J.  C.  Russell,  Clarks- 
ville,  Tex.,  in  regard  to  the  occurrence  of  the  insect  in  that  vicinity. 

It  should  be  remarked  that  Mr.  H.  E.  Weed,  when  entomologist  of 
the  Mississippi  Agricultural  College  Experiment  Station,  writing  of 
this  species  in  1S97.  published  a  map  showing  that  in  1896  it  had  occu- 
pied the  northern  two-thirds  of  Mississippi,  the  prediction  being  made 
at  that  time  that  owing  to  the  large  increase  in  the  acreage  devoted  to 
Irish  potato  in  that  State  and  throughout  the  South  it  was  probable 
that  the  insect  would  continue  its  southward  spread  to  the  Gulf  of 
Mexico  (Bui.  11.  Miss.  Agr.  Exp.  Sta.,  Mar.,  1897,  pp.  186,  187). 

THE  RICE  WEEVIL   AX   IMPORTANT    FACTOR    IX   THE    FAILURE  OF  GER- 
MINATION OF  CORN  IN  THE  SOUTH. 

In  the  course  of  investigations  conducted  by  Mr.  E.  A.  Schwarz,  of 
this  office,  in  Texas,  to  place  the  hibernation  of  the  Mexican  cotton-boll 
weevil,  it  was  ascertained  that  not  only  the  boll  weevil  but  the  rice 
weevil  (Calandra  oryza  Linn.)  or  so-called  corn  weevil,  as  it  is  better 
known  in  that  portion  of  the  South,  made  use  of  cornstalks  for  winter 
quarters.  Only  a  few  of  the  boll  weevil  were  observed  in  comparison 
to  thousands  of  the  rice  weevil  that  habitually  hibernate  in  this  manner. 
The  latter  beetle  also  sometimes  passes  the  winter  in  cotton  bolls 
and  in  other  plants,  but  cornstalks,  owing  to  the  greater  degree  of 
moisture  which  they  contain  in  the  pith,  form  a  favorite  winter 
home  of  this  insect.  Thus  it  happens  that  the  careless  farmer  has  to 
contend  not  only  with  the  weevils  that  are  present  in  his  corn  when 
planted,  but  with  others  which  come  out  of  the  cornstalks  on  the 
approach  of  warm  weather  and  undoubtedly  dig  down  into  the  soil  to 
the  kernels. 


102 


Frequent  complaint  has  been  made  of  the  failure  of  corn  to  grow 
in  the  South,  and  this  explains  the  reason  to  a  very  considerable  extent. 
Most  of  Mr.  Schwarz's  observations  were  made  in  the  vicinity  of 
Victoria,  and  he  related  having  seen  long,  uninterrupted  rows  of  these 
beetles  on  fences  when  warm  weather  tempted  them  from  their  places 
of  concealment.  Mr.  Schwarz  brought  with  him  specimens  of  corn 
seed  that  had  been  planted  showing-  the  holes  made  by  the  ravages  of 
this  insect,  which  ate  out  the  germ,  leaving  the  remainder  practically 
intact.  The  farmers  usually  attributed  this  failure  of  germination  to 
crows  and  other  birds,  and  the  truth  has  never  been  ascertained 
hitherto. 

The  necessity  of  selecting  good  seed  for  planting  has  been  pointed 

out  in  Farmers'  Bulletin 
45,  on  insects  affecting 
stored  grains,  as  well  as  in 
a  pamphlet  entitled  "In- 
sects Injurious  to  Beans 
and  Peas."  It  is  now  in 
order  to  advise  cleaner  cul- 
ture, consisting  of  the 
destruction  of  cornstalks 
before  the  insects  which 
have  hibernated  in  them 
issue.  .This  is  a  measure 
of  the  greatest  value  not 
only  in  controlling  the  rice 
weevil,  but  many  other 
granary  insects  which  lead 
a  more  or  less  outdoor  ex- 
istence in  the  South,  such 
as  the  grain  beetles,  Sil- 
vanus  and  Cathartus,  the 


Fig.  8. — Sphenophorus  obscurus:  a,  adult,  enlarged;  b,  head 
of  adult,  from  side,  still  more  enlarged;  c,  full-grown 
larva,  from  side;  d,  pupa,  ventral  view,  both  enlarged 
(from  Insect  Life). 


flour  beetles,  Tribolium,  etc.,  and  some  other  species. 

THE  SANDWICH  ISLANDS  SUGAR-CANE  BORER  AGAIN. 

It  may  be  remembered  by  our  older  correspondents  that  we  pub- 
lished in  Volume  I  of  Insect  Life,  on  pages  185-189,  an  illustrated 
account  of  Sphenophorus  obscurus  Boisd.,  a  species  which  we  may  call 
the  Sandwich  Islands  sugar-cane  borer.  We  have  several  times  received 
this  species  from  different  sources,  and  some  articles  and  shorter  notes 
have  been  published  in  regard  to  it,  most  of  which  are  referred  to  in 
the  article  cited.  February  18,  1902,  Mr.  Jared  G.  Smith,  special 
agent  of  this  Department  in  charge  of  the  Hawaii  Experimental  Sta- 
tion at  Honolulu,  Hawaiian  Islands,  wrote  us  from  Spreckelsville, 
Maui,  in  regard  to  severe  injuries  by  this  insect.    As  some  of  our 


103 


present  readers  may  not  have  access  to  the  volume  of  Insect  Life  to 
which  we  have  referred,  the  illustrations  there  presented  are  repro- 
duced (figs.  8  and  9).    Mr.  Smith  writes  substantially  as  follows: 

I  am  sending  you  herewith  specimens  of  the  cane-borer  which  infests  the  sugar- 
cane plant  throughout  the  rainy  districts  of  Hawaii.  It  is  quite  rare  in  the  dry  dis- 
tricts or  in  dry  years,  but  is  terribly  destructive  in  wet  years  or  on  plantations  in 
regions  with  abundant  rainfall.  On  one  plantation  on  Maui  the  loss  last  year  from 
the  cane-borer  was  estimated  at  between  1,000  and  1,500  tons  of  sugar— 20  per  cent 
of  the  crop.  At  an  average  price  for  sugar  of  §70  per  ton  it  is  not  difficult  to  figure 
up  a  pretty  stiff  bill  against  the  cane-borer. 


Fig.  9.— Sections  of  sugar  cane  showing  work  of  Sphcnophorus  obscurus:  a,  larva,  b,  pupa,  in  situ; 
c,  probably  points  of  oviposition— somewhat  reduced  (from  fnsect  Life). 

From  its  habits  I  judge  there  is  no  hope  of  trapping,  poisoning,  or  otherwise 
destroying  it,  and  it  looks  as  though  we  would  have  to  find  a  natural  enemy  for  it. 
The  toad  has  been  tried,  but  the  mongoose  is  too  fond  of  toad  for  breakfast. 

The  eggs  are  apparently  laid  in  the  sheath  of  the  old  leaves  of  the  cane  a  little 
above  its  junction  with  the  node.  The  egg  hatches  out  in  the  sheath  and  the  young 
grub  eats  its  way  into  the  cane  just  above  the  node.  The  hole  where  it  enters  is 
very  small  and  hardly  visible.  Once  inside  the  grub  grows  rapidly  and  channels 
back  and  forth,  rapidly  converting  the  lower  internodes  into  a  mass  of  fceces.  The 
grub  pupates  in  the  cane  and  only  emerges  from  the  stalk  as  a  beetle  to  copulate,  and 
do  it  all  over  again.    Several  of  those  which  I  send  were  caught  in  the  act.  The 


104 


imagos  are  found  inside  the  sheaths  of  the  dead  leaves  on  the  lower  part  of  the  stalk 
during  the  daytime,  and  apparently  only  fly  at  night. 

Not  heing  an  entomologist,  I  don't  know  what  other  information  would  be  of  value 
to  you.  The  grub  is  found  only  in  the  mature  basal  joints  of  the  cane  stalk — the 
portion  of  the  stalk  which  is  richest  in  sugar.  I  do  not  think  that  the  imago  is 
attracted  by  light;  anyway  it  would  be  dangerous  to  have  a  light  in  a  cane  field  on 
account  of  the  danger  of  fire. 

Ten  tons  of  cane  per  acre  are  sometimes  destroyed  by  the  borer. 

Since  writing  the  above  I  have  talked  with  Mr.  A.  Koebele.  He  says  the  borer  is 
probably  a  native  of  Tahiti,  or  at  least  that  it  was  introduced  here  from  there,  but 
that  it  also  occurs  in  Samoa,  Fiji,  New  Guinea,  and  other  southern  Pacific  island 
groups.  Also  that  it  infests  the  banana,  wine  palm  (Caryota  urens)  and  other  palms, 
the  papaya  (Carica  papaya),  and  a  good  many  other  tropical  crops. 

Hon.  H.  P.  Baldwin,  who  gave  me  most  of  the  preceding  information,  says  that 
the  cane  borer  is  the  worst  insect  pest  in  Hawaii,  and  that  a  conservative  estimate 
of  the  amount  of  damage  done  by  it  would  be  at  least  $500,000  per  annum. 

UMBRELLA  ANTS  IN  CUBA. 

During  the  first  week  of  June  we  received  two  communications  in 
regard  to  an  ant  native  to  Cuba  and  designated  by  the  natives  as  "  bibi- 
jagua."  Mr.  Thomas  R.  Towns,  Quiebra  Hacha,  province  of  Pinar 
del  Rio,  wrote  May  27  that  this  insect,  which  is  probably  Atta  msfUr 
laris  or  a  related  species,  is  as  industrious  as  an}'  animal  alive,  work- 
ing as  late  as  12  o'clock  at  night,  when  the  dew  puts  a  stop  to  its  work. 
At  10  next  day  it  is  out  again.  The  ants  stripped  a  nursery  of 
ever}7  leaf  of  orange,  showing  a  preference  for  the  tender  leaves. 
They  are  described  as  taking  a  row  of  young  stock  about  an  eighth  of 
a  mile  long,  tree  by  tree,  never  missing  one  nor  leaving  a  leaf.  When 
this  row  is  finished  they  take  the  next.  Our  correspondent  stated  that 
he  "  ran  them  out  "  by  tarring  a  rope  with  pine  tar  and  laying  this 
around  the  plot  attacked. 

Mr.  E.  T.  Fries,  Santa  Fe,  Isle  of  Pines,  complained  of  the  same 
species  and  its  injury  to  orange.  He  had  noticed  its  habit  of  living 
in  colonies  in  immense  hills  of  earth,  with  galleries,  chambers  and 
tunnels,  and  with  well-beaten  paths  in  many  directions  leading  to  the 
hill.  Along  these  the  ants  traveled,  each  carrying  a  bit  of  leaf  often 
several  times  as  large  as  the  ant  itself.  The  ants  are  officered  by  one 
of  larger  size. 

THE  GAGE  BUG. 

During  the  time  that  this  Division  issued  the  periodical  publication, 
Insect  Life,  which  reached  an  edition  of  seven  volumes  and  has  now 
been  discontinued,  we  had  frequent  occasion  to  mention  the  popular 
names  of  our  common  insects.  Such  notes  as  we  published  frequently 
elicited  interesting  correspondence. 

January  30,  1902.  Mr.  James  Riley,  of  New  Dorchester,  Mass., 
wrote  in  regard  to  popular  names,  giving  an  account  of  the  "Gage 


105 


bug,"  which  we  reproduce  below  in  its  entirety.  There  is  little  doubt, 
from  the  description  of  the  insect,  as  chunky  and  not  flying,  that  he 
has  reference  to  the  common  squash  bug.  a  well-known  enemy  of 
pumpkin  and  squash  vines.  It  is  probable  that  General  Gage  did  not 
have  a  very  extensive  knowledge  of  entomology,  and  judged  this 
insect  to  be  more  destructive  than  it  really  was.  owing  to  its  somewhat 
disgusting  appearance  and  still  more  displeasing  odor.  The  following 
is  in  reference  to  one  of  the  Entomologist's  lectures  delivered  at  the 
Lowell  Institute  during  the  month  of  January: 

In  common  with  all  your  auditors  I  have  been  pleased  and  instructed  with  your 
heart  and  head  talks  on  insect  life.  I  was  waiting  all  the  time  to  hear  of  one  of  my 
old  enemies,  the  Gage  bugs.  You  may  have  mentioned  them  in  your  second  lecture, 
which  I  missed.  They  may  have  been  the  Hessian  fly,  but  if  my  memory  serves 
they  came  with  them,  but  were  more  chunky,  and  did  not  fly.  I  was  reminded  of 
them  when  in  your  first  lecture  you  said  that  people  often  named  pests  after  what 
they  disliked,'  as  the  French  weed  in  English-speaking  Canada  and  the  Abe  Lincoln 
bug  in  Georgia.  So  too  with  the  Gage  bug.  The  old  man  who  brought  me  up  was 
an  Alden  but  five  generations  from  the  historic  John.  He  used  to  tell  me  in  hoeing 
time  (in  the  late  50' s  and  early  60' s  of  the  century  that  was)  that  General  Gage  after 
the  battle  of  Bunker  Hill,  finding  he  could  not  "  whip  us,"  went  up  on  the  hill  the 
next  day  and,  opening  his  snuff  box,  let  out  the  bugs  that  we  were  then  killing  on 
our  pumpkin  and  squash  vines.  He  would  describe  most  lucidly  the  battle  before 
telling  the  story,  and  so  I  never  stooped  to  "squash"  a  Gage  bug  in  those  days 
without  seeing  a  general  in  red  on  a  high  hill,  snuff  box  in  hand,  out  of  which 
issued  a  living  line  of  pestilence  as  the  bugs  swarmed  in  perspective  down  the  thir- 
teen colonies.  Such  was  a  lesson  in  natural  and  political  history  of  an  old-time 
Yankee  to  an  Irish  boy  forty  years  ago. 

THE  PROBABILITY  OF  THE  OCCURRENCE  OF  THE  MEXICAN  COTTOX-BOLL 

WEEVIL  IX  BRAZIL. 

\Ye  have  received  information  leading  toward  the  conclusion  that 
the  cotton-boll  weevil  (Anthononvus  grandis  Boh.),  or  an  insect  of  very 
similar  habits,  has  been  present  for  some  years  in  the  cotton  regions 
of  Brazil,  notably  in  the  State  of  Bahia.  Professor  d'Utra,  director 
of  the  State  agricultural  station  of  Sao  Paulo,  has  written  a  rather 
extensive  article  upon  this  subject,  in  which  he  considers  that  there  is 
no  doubt  that  the  insect  is  AntJumomus  grandis  (Boletin  de  Agrieul- 
tura.  2d  ser.,  No.  4,  pp.  211-229,  1901).  In  our  efforts  to  obtain 
specimens  we  have  been  favored  by  Prof.  Adolph  Hempel,  of  the  same 
station,  with  the  information  that,  although  there  may  be  some  uncer- 
tainty about  the  identification,  the  fact  remains  that  in  the  State  of 
Bahia  there  occurs  a  small  beetle  that  lives  in  the  cotton  bolls,  espe- 
cially within  the  seeds.  This  describes  exactly  the  method  of  work  of 
the  boll  weevil  in  southern  Mexico  and  Central  America,  as  noted  by 
Townsend,  though  in  Texas  it  never  occurs  within  the  seeds. 

In  the  absence  of  specimens  only  speculations  regarding  this  mat- 
ter are  to  be  indulged  in.    There  is.  however,  an  authentic  record  of 


106 


the  occurrence  of  this  insect  in  Cuba  in  1871.  Nevertheless,  it  is 
practically  certain  that  in  1882,  at  the  time  of  the  visit  of  Branner  and 
Koebele  to  Brazil,  Anthonomus  grandis  did  not  exist  as  an  enemy  of 
cotton  in  the  State  of  Bahia  or  elsewhere  in  that  country.  Moreover, 
none  of  the  principal  works  dealing  with  the  Coleoptera  of  that  por- 
tion of  South  America  mentions  the  species.  Although  this  by  no 
means  demonstrates  that  Anthonomus  grandis  may  not  now  be  found 
there,  it  certainly  tends  to  indicate  that  if  the  species  has  made  its  way 
into  Brazil,  it  has,  in  less  than  twenty  years,  increased  its  range 
remarkably. — W.  D.  H. 

the  st.  Andrew's  cotton  stainer. 

Mr.  J.  J.  de  Barril,  the  proprietor  of  a  cotton  plantation  in  the 
interior  of  Cuba,  has  given  us  interesting  details  concerning  Dys- 
dercus  andrese  L.  This  species,  like  D.  suturellus  H.-S.  of  the  south- 
eastern United  States,  is  a  cotton  stainer.  It  sometimes  occurs  in 
such  numbers  that  if  cotton  culture  is  again  engaged  in  extensively  in 
the  West  Indies  it  may  become  considerably  more  important  there 
than  its  congener  in  this  country,  which  has  for  many  years  ranked  as 
a  pest  of  only  secondary  importance. 

Some  years  ago  this  insect  was  the  subject  of  one  of  Prof.  T.  D.  A. 
Cockerell's  stylographic  notes  (Institute  of  Jamaica,  Notes  from  the 
Museum,  No.  9,  Feb.  21,  1892).  The  common  name  we  have  used 
was  suggested  by  Professor  Cockerell,  and  is  in  allusion  to  the  white 
cross  formed  by  the  markings  on  the  hemelytra  which  Linnseus  also 
referred  to  in  the  Latin  name  he  gave  the  species.  In  the  adults  this 
coloration  is  quite  striking.  More  than  a  century  ago  Sloane,  a 
traveler  in  Jamaica,  referred  to  the  insect  as  "a  Cimex  of  a  scarlet 
colour  with  a  white  St.  Andrew's  cross  on  its  back.  This  is  one -third 
of  an  inch  in  length.  It  is  very  often  to  be  met  with  amongst 
flowers." 

Our  correspondent  states  that  on  his  plantation,  where  until  last 
year  no  cotton  had  been  planted  for  nearly  half  a  century,  the  cotton 
bolls  were  frequently  so  covered  that  nothing  but  a  mass  of  red  and 
black  insects  was  visible.  This  happened  an  January  and  February, 
before  the  fruit  opened,  and  no  effect  upon  the  plant,  except  that  of 
dwarfing  the  bolls,  was  observed.  Toward  the  end  of  March,  how- 
ever, when  all  of  the  bolls  had  burst  open  and  most  of  the  staple  had 
been  gathered,  the  pests  fell  upon  what  remained,  and  then  the  stain- 
ing of  the  fiber  became  most  noticeable.  The  color  of  the  stain  was 
yellowish  brown  or  ferruginous.  Another  observation  suggests  a 
probable  effective  method  of  destroying  the  pests.  All  the  hollows 
of  stumps  or  trees  in  the  cotton  fields  were  noticed  to  be  filled  by 
millions  of  the  immature  insects.  These  did  not  eat  the  leaves  of  the 
cotton  plant,  but  were  found  ci*awling  over  the  grass  and  tobacco 


107 


plants  which  were  planted  in  the  vicinity  of  the  cotton.  In  these 
situations  it  would  be  an  easy  matter  to  destroy  the  pests  by  means  of 
hot  water,  or  kerosene  emulsion,  or  a  mechanical  mixture  of  kerosene 
and  water. 

The  species  is  generally  distributed  in  the  West  Indies.  It  has 
been  reported  from  San  Domingo,  Jamaica,  and  St.  John,  and  Mr.  O. 
Heidemann's  collection  contains  specimens  from  Cuba  and  Mont- 
serrat.  It  did  not  appear,  however,  in  the  extensive  Smith  collection 
of  Hemiptera  from  Granada,  W.  L,  and  likewise  seems  to  be  unknown 
in  Mexico  and  Central  America. — W.  D.  H. 

STOPPAGE  OF  ELECTRIC  LIGHTS  BY  INSECTS. 

The  Electrical  World  and  Engineer  of  August  9,  1901,  says  that 
recently  at  St.  Paul,  Minn.,  the  electric  lights  were  stopped  by  an 
accumulation  of  shad  flies,  18  inches  from  wire  to  wire,  shutting  off 
the  current  of  25,000  volts.  The  shut  down  by  a  short  circuit  between 
the  wires  lasted  an  hour,  and  it  was  found  necessary  to  station  an 
attendant  to  remove  the  constantly  accumulating  insects  with  a  hoe. 
The  figure  illustrating  the  article  represented  a  Bibio,  but  the  text  says 
that  the  creatures  were  shad  flies. 

A  VARIETY  OF  WHEAT  SAID  TO  BE  IMMUNE  FROM  HESSIAN  FLY. 

Maj.  William  K.  King,  ex-chief  of  the  seed  division,  Department  of 
Agriculture,  returning  from  Buffalo,  and  having  interviewed  several 
New  York  wheat  growers,  reports  that  he  is  authoritatively  informed 
that  the  only  variety  of  wheat  which  practically  escaped  the  great 
damage  which  the  Hessian  fly  did  in  that  part  of  the  State  during  the 
season  of  1901  is  Dawson's  Golden  Chaff.  The  peculiarity  in  the  wheat 
is  that  the  straw  is  very  stiff  and  tillers  abundantly.  It  originated  at 
Guelph,  Ontario,  Canada,  at  the  Dominion  Experimental  Farms.  It 
has  been  extensively  planted  in  Canada,  also  in  western  Michigan,  not 
only  at  the  Agricultural  College,  but  in  the  vicinity  of  Grand  Rapids. 

A  WESTERN  CRICKET  IX  OREGON. 

July  30, 1901,  Mr.  R.  J.  Hollis  sent  specimens  of  one  of  the  so-called 
western  crickets  (Andbrus purpurascens  Uhl.)  from  Andrews,  Harney 
County,  Oreg.  Our  correspondent  had  never  seen  this  species  in 
California  or  elsewhere,  but  knew  that  it  was  a  yearly  visitor  in  the 
vicinity  from  which  he  wrote,  staying  about  six  weeks,  after  which 
it  either  died  or  disappeared  in  some  unexplained  manner.  It  was 
noticed  that  it  was  migratory.  In  some  places  there  were  millions 
of  them,  and  they  ate  everything  from  garden  truck  to  leather  and 
canvas,  and  even  each  other.  They  appeared  to  be  sensitive  to  heat 
and  cold,  and  were  described  as  herding  together  like  hogs  during  the 


ins 


night,  while  in  the  hottest  part  of  the  day  they  got  under  cover  out  of 
the  sun.  It  was  an  interesting  Bight  to  see  so  many  of  them  jumping 
and  bopping  like  Progs.  They  were  so  Large  and  ravenous  that  it  took 
much  vegetation  to  appease  their  appetite-.  They  soon  cleaned  out  a 
garden.    The  species  appears  to  be  peculiar  to  arid  regions. 

NOTES  FROM  CORRESPONDENCE. 

Tobacco  for  mushroom  fumigation. — John  T.  Cochran,  Claymont,  Del.,  writes 
that  tohacco  fumigation  has  been  practiced  with  some  success  for  mushrooms.  It  did 
not  entirely  remove  the  insects,  but  killed  many  of  them.  Our  correspondent 
believes  that  a  mild  fumigation  with  tobacco  stems,  as  suggested  by  us,  at  frequent 
intervals  before  the  crop  begins  to  show,  will  keep  down  insect  pests. 

Insect  injury  in  Texas. — Mr.  John  Xagle,  a  Texas  correspondent,  of  Gaines- 
ville, Cook  County,  writes  under  date  of  July  4,  1902,  that  every  year  the  State  loses 
25  per  cent  of  all  crops  through  insect  depredations,  not  including  losses  from  other 
causes,  the  latter  modifying  clause  being  added  because  the  year  1902  at  that  time 
gave  promise  of  being  one  of  great  deprivation,  as  many  farmers  would  suffer  for  the 
bare  necessities  of  life  in  that  portion  of  the  State  at  least,  where  people  were  going 
10  miles  for  water  for  use  on  their  farms. 

The  apple  twig-borer  (Amphicerus  bicaudatus  Say)  injuring  honey  locust. — 
This  species,  which  is  also  called  grape  cane-borer  and  which  is  known  to  attack  a 
variety  of  fruit,  forest,  and  shade  trees  as  well  as  shrubs,  was  received  May  24,  1902, 
from  Mr.  W.  S.  Robb,  Lacrosse,  Kans.,  who  reported  that  it  was  feeding  on  honey 
locust.  As  in  the  case  of  attack  to  apple,  the  beetles  perforate  the  bark  near  a  bud, 
thorn,  or  branch,  generally  above,  and  work  directly  toward  the  heart. 

The  pear-blight  beetle  in  the  Pacific  region. — May  23,  1902,  Mr.  Harry  I  r. 
Smith,  Vancouver,  Wash.,  sent  twigs  of  Italian  prune  injured  by  this  species,  known 
also  as  the  shot-hole  borer  {Xyleborus  dispar  Fab.),  with  the  information  that  con- 
siderable injury  was  done  in  that  region.  Mr.  Smith  stated  that  the  proportion  of 
trees  killed  in  his  young  orchard  was  about  10  to  75.  June  12  we  received  a  package 
of  specimens  from  Ely,  Oreg.,  containing  beetles  and  a  score  or  so  of  bits  of  twigs 
showing  injury  by  this  insect.  These  are  the  first  instances  of  injury,  to  our  knowl- 
edge, that  have  been  recorded  for  this  species  in  the  far  West.  It  would  be  inter- 
esting to  learn  how  general  the  attack  is,  and  whether  the  insects  were  introduced  from 
our  Eastern  States,  where  the  species  has  been  present  for  half  a  century  or  more, 
or  from  Asia,  where  it  occurs  in  Siberia. 

Peculiar  larval  habits  of  a  leaf -beetle  affecting  prickly  ash. — During  1901 
and  1902  Mr.  J.  D.  Mitchell,  Victoria,  Tex.,  sent  specimens  of  Trirhabda  brevicollis., 
stating  under  date  of  May  4  of  the  former  year  that  the  larvae  burrow  into  the  ground 
where  it  is  slightly  raised,  making  runs  or  galleries,  from  which  they  crawl  out  and 
about  day  and  night,  but  never  more  than  a  few  inches  from  the  colony  home.  The 
following  year  he  reported  that  he  had  found  a  large  colony  tunneling  into  a  small 
hillock  and  crawling  around  on  the  surface  of  the  ground,  and  had  observed  also  that 
the  pupal  stage  was  passed  in  the  ground,  the  mature  insects  issuing  about  ten  days 
from  the  time  that  the  larvae  disappeared.  May  7, 1902,  he  noted  that  a  large  colony 
of  the  beetles,  which  are  not  unlike  the  common  elm  leaf-beetle  (Galerucella  luteola) 
in  appearance,  had  about  ten  days  later  completely  defoliated  a  large  prickly  ash 
I  Xanfhoxylum  americanum).  As  with  other  species  of  this  genus,  the  beetles  are 
very  sluggish,  seldom  flying,  but  dropping  to  the  ground  when  touched  or  disturbed, 
and  crawling  slowly.  Mr.  E.  A.  Schwarz,  of  this  office,  has  observed  the  same  species 
at  Victoria,  Tex.,  often  entirely  defoliating  the  brush-like  trees  of  this  worthless 
plant.  What  is  considered  to  be  the  same  species  occurs  in  Michigan  and  all  over 
the  Eastern  States  wherever  this  plant  occurs. 


109 


Blister  beetles  attracted  to  lights. — Mr.  Otto  Holstein,  Cline,  Tex.,  wrote  dur- 
ing August,  1901,  that  he  succeeded  in  getting  rid  of  blister  beetles  as  well  as  other 
insects  by  placing  a  lighted  lamp  in  a  basin  of  water;  the  insects  flying  about  the 
light  invariably  fell  into  the  water  and  drowned,  a  little  oil  upon  the  surface  render- 
ing it  impossible  for  them  to  escape.  This  is  an  old-time  remedy  against  a  number 
of  insects,  and  it  is  well  known  that  blister  beetles  are  frequently  attracted  to  lights 
in  considerable  numbers.  The  trouble  with  this  remedy,  however,  is  that  it  is  apt 
to  destroy  also  many  beneficial  insects. 

Parasites  of  the  tent  caterpillar  (Clisiocampa  americana  Harr. ). — Writing  June 
17,  1902,  Mr.  F.  E.  Brooks,  Frenchcreek,  W.  Va.,  sent  specimens  of  parasites  of  this 
species,  with  report  that  out  of  43  cocoons  collected  on  apple  trees  9  yielded  moths 
and  8  the  tachina  fly  (Front  ina  frenchii  Will.) ,  while  all  the  remainder  gave  201  indi- 
viduals of  the  ichneumon  (Pimpla  maura  Cr. ).  Later,  our  correspondent  sent  two 
chalcis  fly  parasites  (Miotropis  clisiocampx  Ashm.  and  Dibrachys  boucheamis  Ratz.), 
as  well  as  a  species  of  Compoplegine  from  the  same  host, 

Parasites  of  the  plum  curculio. — Mr.  Brooks  also  sends  us  from  the  same  locality 
a  Braconid  parasite  of  the  plum  curculio  (Conotrachelus  nenuphar),  viz:  Bracon  mel- 
litor  Say;  and  a  chalcis  fly,  a  species  of  Eurytoma,  also  a  parasite  of  the  curculio. 

Note  on  Pogonomyrmex  barbatus,  one  of  the  agricultural  ants  of  Texas. — 
Mr.  G.  M.  Dodge  has  recently  sent  specimens  of  this  ant,  together  with  samples  of 
seeds  on  which  he  observed  it  feeding  at  Ingram,  Kerr  County,  Tex.  These  seeds 
have  been  identified  by  Mr.  A.  J.  Pieters,  of  the  Bureau  of  Plant  Industry  of  this 
Department,  as  Texan  grama  (Bouteloua  texana),  sand  bur  (Cenchms  tribuloides) ,  and 
lance-leaved  sage  (Salvia  lanceolata) .  Our  correspondent  stated  that  he  had  seen  the 
ants  harvesting  these  seeds. 

A  Cimbex  in  British  Burma. — Mr.  George  Field,  of  Washington,  an  importer 
of  orchids,  found  attached  to  the  roots  of  Dendrobium  icardianum,  an  orchid  from 
British  Burma,  a  rough,  brown  silken  cocoon  from  which  issued  May  17,  1902,  in 
the  insectary  of  this  Department,  a  new  species  of  sawfly  of  the  genus  Cimbex.  This 
fact  is  of  A  ery  considerable  interest,  since  it  seems  that  no  species  of  this  genus  has 
ever  been  taken  in  Farther  India. 

Note  on  the  ox  warble  in  Mississippi. — March  27,  1902,  Mr.  Lawrence  C. 
Johnson,  geologist,  Pachuta,  Miss.,  wrote  in  regard  to  this  species,  which  is  also 
called  the  ox  bot  or  heel  fly  (Hypoderma  lineata  Vill. ),  stating  that  about  two  weeks 
prior  to  the  date  of  writing,  with  the  first  spring-like  weather,  this  species  had 
appeared  in  large  numbers  and  had  proved  a  great  torment  to  cattle.  The  insect  did 
not  confine  itself  to  attack  on  the  heel,  this,  according  to  popular  belief,  being  because 
the  cattle  stamped  so  much. 

Christian  Science  for  Cattle. — Mr.  Franklin,  formerly  district  attorney  at  San 
Antonio,  Tex.,  vouches  for  the  fact  that  two  cattle  owners  at  Llano,  Tex.,  treat  their 
cows  for  screw  worms  by  Christian  Science. 

Scavenger  flies  as  a  creamery  pest. — A  correspondent  at  Garrison,  Mo., 
writing  May  16,  1902,  transmitted  specimens  of  the  fly  Calliphora  viridescens  Desv., 
with  the  report  that  these  insects  were  new,  and  that  they  were  troublesome  in  a 
room  where  milk  was  kept.  They  laid  eggs  in  the  cream  when  it  was  nearly  sweet 
and  beginning  to  turn.  They  did  not  appear  to  infest  the  butter,  but  tried  to  get  into 
the  sweet  milk. 

Notes  on  kissing  bugs. — June  28,  1902,  we  received  a  specimen  of  Reduvius  p<  r- 
sonatus  Linn.,  from  Mr.  W.  T.  Hubbell,  Philo,  Ohio,  with  the  information  that  it 
was  caught  in  the  night  within  the  folds  of  a  lady's  nightdress  after  twice  stinging 
her.  The  lady  described  the  sensation  as  like  the  sting  of  a  wasp,  causing  sickness 
and  something  like  a  chill,  symptoms  which,  however,  might  have  been  due  to  nerv- 
ousness, as  the  lady  was  not  very  strong. 

July  28,  1902,  Mr.  J.  C.  M.  Johnston,  Xew  Wilmington,  Pa.,  sent  a  minute  larva 
of  a  lace-winged  fly  (Chrysopa  sp.),  with  report  that  it  had  bitten  him  on  the  hand, 


110 


and  the  sensation  which  followed  was  similar  to  that  due  to  the  bite  of  a  mosquito, 
but  no  inflammation  took  place. 

Tobacco  as  a  remedy  for  grape  leaf-hoppers. — Mr.  Fred  W.  Card,  Kingston, 
R.  I.j  writes  October  19,  1901,  that  a  Mr.  Saunders  found  tobacco  stems  on  the  floor 
of  his  grapery  an  effective  remedy  against  grape  "thrips"  or  leaf-hoppers  (Typhlo- 
cyba).  Mr.  Card  also  suggested  that  after  thoroughly  clearing  out  the  leaves  and 
refuse  during  the  fall  the  vines  and  houses  should  be  thoroughly  sprayed  with  kero- 
sene emulsion. 

The  use  of  harvest  spiders  in  medicine. — A  correspondent  from  South  Caro- 
lina sends  us  specimens  of  IAobunum  formosum  Wood,  with  the  legs  removed  and  the 
bodies  packed  carefully  in  gelatine  capsules,  with  the  remark  that  he  has  found  them 
a  sure  cure  for  malarial  fevers. 

Negro  superstition  in  regard  to  stinging  ants. — The  negroes  of  Louisiana 
have  a  superstition,  an  animistic  belief  in  the  little  ant  (which  we  call  the  bulldog 
ant  (Mutillid)  for  the  reason  that  it  is  always  running  around  hunting  other  insects) 
that  if  they  cook  this  in  a  piece  of  corn  bread  or  mush  and  feed  it  to  a  young  pup 
that  it  will  make  a  good  hunting  dog  out  of  the  pup.  As  a  general  thing,  this  has  to 
be  done  by  some  old  hoodoo  doctor.  I  went  to  work  and  did  the  thing  myself,  and 
the  results  were  not  satisfactory.  So  I  told  him  it  didn't  pan  out,  and  he  said: 
"  Well,  that  is  because  you  didn't  send  for  me.  Give  him  to  me,  and  I'll  fix  that 
dog  up." — E.  S.  Hattock,  Washington,  D.  C. 

Successful  infection  of  a  wireworm  with  Cordyceps  fungus. — July  6,  1902, 
Mr.  C.  W.  Nash,  Toronto,  Canada,  wrote  that  he  had  been  successful  in  infecting  the 
larva  of  an  Elaterid  beetle  with  a  fungus  disease,  a  species  of  Cordyceps.  Somewhat 
prior  to  the  date  of  writing,  larvae  were  noticed  affected  by  this  disease,  and  the 
spores  were  confined  with  other  larva?  received  from  a  distance,  with  the  result  that 
several  of  these  larvae  were  taken  with  the  disease.  Writing  later,  July  21,  our 
correspondent  sent  a  specimen  of  infected  wireworm  which  Mr.  E.  A.  Schwarz  has 
identified  as  a  species  of  Drasterius,  and  with  little  doubt  dorsalis.  This  specimen 
had  the  fungus  growing  from  the  side  of  the  head.  The  fungus  was  described  as 
growing  straight  up  until  it  reached  the  top  of  the  jar  in  which  it  was  confined.  The 
specimen  sent  measured  between  4  and  4£  inches. 

Cutworm  injury  to  ginseng. — Mr.  George  Adams,  Detroit,  Mich.,  writes  in 
regard  to  injury  done  by  cutworms  to  2,000  valuable  ginseng  plants  (Aralia  quinque- 
folium).  He  states  that  they  were  all  gnawed  off  at  night,  and  that  the  plants  were 
vigorous  and  healthy  until  cut  down.  In  Pulaski  County,  Mich.,  he  states  that  gin- 
seng seed  is  selling  at  from  $5  an  ounce  to  $120  a  pound,  and  that  he  had  lost  his 
entire  crop  of  seed  for  the  year. 

The  unicorn  worm  in  a  new  role. — Under  date  of  July  29,  1902,  Mr.  C.  P.  . 
Crowell,  Rochester,  N.  Y.,  sent  a  specimen  of  the  larvae  of  Schizura  unicornis  S.  &  A., 
with  report  that  it  was  devouring  the  leaves  of  plum  in  that  vicinity,  literally  eat- 
ing everything  as  it  went,  leaves  and  plant-lice  included.  This  insect,  as  is  well 
known,  is  a  rather  general  feeder  on  deciduous  woody  plants,  but  its  habit  of  feeding 
on  Aphides  has  not  been  recorded  to  our  knowledge. 

o 


